A Rich Mixture of All Kinds of Minds
At TDS, the faculty recognizes and appreciates that students learn differently and are at a variety of readiness levels.
Student Success Team
Our TDS Student Success Team is made up of our Learning and Literacy Specialists, and School Counselors. This team of professionals works closely with one another to serve our students and teachers by supporting learning needs both inside and outside the classroom. Through pulling small groups, consulting with teachers, meeting with students individually, and more, this team works to ensure that all students have the opportunity to fulfill their academic potential.
Lower School Classroom Differentiation
Most of our Lower School instruction is taught with the workshop model in mind. This means there is about 10-15 minutes of explicit teaching time, and the rest of the blocked time is spent with students actively collaborating and working (individually or in small groups). During this student work time, the teachers meet with students to tailor and bolster the instruction as needed. This allows for regular differentiation to be woven into almost everything we do. Some specific examples include:
Spelling and Vocabulary
Our Word Study program is tailored to meet students exactly where they are in their spelling journey and grows with them across grade levels. Students master phonetic patterns in small groups and work with the same format and program across grades K-5. After they master the phonetic skills, students may move to a more specific vocabulary focus, studying roots and origins to help them decipher unknown meanings.
Writing
Our Writing Workshop model allows students to master writing skills at their own pace and is carefully designed to allow for fluid growth in writing. Expectations and goals are set for the students on an individual basis, and while all students are expected to craft multiple drafts of writing throughout the year, our teachers work to ensure that the students have the support they need to reach their personal goals and potential.
Reading
In K-2, the students read in carefully crafted guided reading groups to allow them to work with classmates at their reading level. As the students enter 3rd-5th grades, our Reading Workshop model allows for tailored individualized instruction through teacher conferences, paired reading, and book clubs.
Math
Our teachers provide enrichment opportunities for students seeking more challenging work, as well as remedial instruction for those who may struggle with new content. Students may receive modified assignments based on their needs and mastery of specific content.
Middle School Classroom Differentiation
In middle school, each subject area has a different teacher and a unique approach to differentiation. Some specific ways that differentiation may occur in each subject area include:
Writing
Expectations for writing assignments may be different, depending on the level from which the student has started. Additionally, there is a focus on growth in the writing curriculum, with students being given the opportunity to receive feedback and make revisions on their writing assignments.
Vocabulary
5th-8th grade students use Membean, an individualized vocabulary program that generates unique word lists and assessments for each student.
Reading
Independent reading books for individual students and works of literature between reading groups are different, depending on the readiness level of the student.
Science
In middle school science, students are frequently given choice projects, where they are able to choose how they are assessed on their knowledge of a given topic.
Math
The middle school math curriculum features two different pathways: one group begins middle school with Sixth Grade Math (leading to Pre-Algebra in 7th and Algebra in 8th) during their sixth-grade year, while the other begins middle school with Pre-Algebra (leading to Algebra in 7th and Geometry in 8th). Additionally, these pathways are flexible based on the needs of our students, and we have created alternate pathways for groups of students as needed.
Social Studies
Social Studies projects and assignments are frequently differentiated, with different texts and a variety of options for how students can show their learning.
Additional Support
Middle school students who need additional support are given the option to take a Resource period in place of a foreign language class
Contact TDS today to learn more.