Summary
Learn strategies for how to differentiate instruction in the kindergarten classroom!
Are you wondering how to differentiate instruction in kindergarten? Kindergarten is a unique time both in the child’s life, and in a teachers career. Unlike most other grades, you get 20+ students who have had none, or minimal, schooling. With diverse experiences and background from each student, it is important for the teacher to differentiate their instruction to engage them in curriculum improving both student outcomes and classroom management. Learning how to differentiate instruction in Kindergarten is no small feat
The dreaded email
I’ll never forget my first year teaching, and teaching in Kindergarten! I was trying my best to differentiate the instruction to meet the student’s needs. I was attempting flexible seating, manipulatives in centers, and other well-known strategies. And, while these strategies are research-based they weren’t effective because I didn’t think about it from the kid’s point of view.
One morning, I sat down on my desk and looked at the sunrise out the window (my favorite time at school is always early morning before it gets busy) as I waited for my email to load. I saw one pop up from a family with the title “John”. My heart dropped, as it does with all emails from families, as I clicked to open it. The email was eye-opening.
What Was Going On?
John was a busy kid. Whole group instruction was often challenging as he zipped around the carpet, rolling into his peers and interrupting. After a few days of noticing these challenges, I began to put a chair on the edge of the carpet and would have John sit in the chair for whole group lessons. Problem solve. Or, so I thought.
In their email, John’s parents shared that he felt ostracized when placed in the “chair”. What I had viewed as a learning tool, John had viewed as punishment. It turns out I wasn’t differentiating the curriculum at all, I was isolating a student.
When thinking about how to differentiate the curriculum in kindergarten John’s, and countless others, stories remind me that teachers are not mind readers. We have a responsibility to actively seek feedback from our students. Their impressions and perspectives influence their educational experience much more than we ever will.
What is Differentiation?
Before learning how to differentiate instruction in Kindergarten it is important to have an understanding of what exactly differentiation is. While there are many interpretations and applications of differentiating curriculum, at its core differentiating is adapting curriculum to meet the individual needs and capabilities of a student. This often requires accommodations and modifications to the curriculum. Some differentiation is formalized through legal documents such as Individualized Education Plans (IEP) or 504s. Take a deep dive into what differentiation and it’s importance in the elementary classroom here.
Why Differentiating in Kindergarten is Important
Differentiating at all ages (yes, even adults!) is noteworthy but research has shown that its positive implications are much greater for our younger students. It creates access points for everyone, regardless of age. Differentiating in Kindergarten is important because it 1) shows students they are capable of understanding this new world, 2) it encourages students to take charge of their educational experiences, 3) differentiation techniques help students recognize the tools that help them access new information and (perhaps most significantly) 4) it shows students that their teachers care about them and their families.
Differentiated Instruction in the Kindergarten Classroom
After that disastrous first year (ok, maybe not disastrous but I learned SO much) I took a deep dive into research-based and effective teaching strategies which led me right to my passion for differentiating curriculum to increase access to all.
After seeing the improvement these strategies made in student outcomes and in my classroom community (seriously these strategies totally changed the classroom management game) I began to share my experiences with teachers in my community and then around the world.
When I began talking to educators about differentiated instruction in the Kindergarten classroom I realized the mass misconceptions about differentiation that are permeating elementary education. Many shared how techniques such as providing visuals, or manipulatives were leading to chaos within their class. The idea of each student doing something different was overwhelming as one teacher would be working with 20 or more kids at a time.
While differentiation relies heavily on student voice and choice, it is not choice in the absence of structure and expectations. Strong systems of differentiation support student access through explicit instruction, expectation and reflection.
Favorite Differentiation Strategies in Kindergarten
I’m all about simplicity and efficiency. If it’s too complex, it won’t get done in the hustle and bustle of the kindergarten classroom. Additionally, teachers should not be spending money on their classrooms. My favorite differentiation strategies in kindergarten include materials that are readily available in a majority of classrooms, without asking teachers to purchase additional materials.
Research shows that one of the most effective practices for differentiation is increasing student choice within the classroom. By increasing student choice, teachers encourage students to advocate for their needs and reflect upon themselves as learners. The more you ask your students for input and truly listen to their responses, the stronger your instruction and their learning will be. Other tried and true strategies include adding visuals, limiting the visual field, and highlighting key pieces. Check out other ways to seamlessly differentiate in your kindergarten classroom!
How to Differentiate Instruction in Kindergarten Reading
Reading instruction takes the majority of the day in most kindergarten classrooms. Teachers balance the teaching of letters and sounds with attempting to grow a love of reading and writing within their learners. Districts, and therefore teachers, are torn between guided reading, independent and small group work with large chunks of whole group instruction. As with all teaching, it is nuanced and you may change how you differentiate instruction in kindergarten reading based on the kids you have in front of you. That’s the spirit of differentiating right?
Engaging whole group instruction with visuals and movement is a great way to differentiate instruction in reading class. Also, be creative with book bins! For your students who are not yet reading independently, balance books with self-correcting activities in their book bins. To differentiate reading instruction, pull small groups with targeted phonics skills. These lessons can be as short as 10 minutes for each group because they are in addition to your whole group lessons. Small groups can be a challenge. Be sure to check out some proven classroom management strategies to improve your small group instruction and improve your ability to differentiate in the elementary classroom.
How to Differentiate Instruction in Kindergarten Writing
When thinking about how to differentiate instruction in Kindergarten writing its important to think about your goal. Are you working on handwriting? Grammar and syntax? Storytelling? These are very different skills that are all required when a child sits down to create a piece of writing. The clearer your goal is the easier it will be to differentiate and provide appropriate accommodations.
Some of my tried and true strategies for differentiating writing include: providing a variety of paper (some with highlighted lines, some with no lines), having a student tell the story and then writing down an outline as they talk, and speech-to-text software!
Learning how to differentiate instruction in kindergarten takes practice. As with many things in teaching, it takes trial and error. Create strong systems and a period of reflection and your students will soar as you learn how to differentiate instruction in kindergarten!
Looking for more ways how to differentiate instruction in Kindergarten? Check these out!
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03055698.2016.1195719
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=90976
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