"​Differentiation is not a new idea. Think back to the one-room schoolhouse of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, where one teacher had to educate children of varying ages and grade levels at the same time in a single classroom. That teacher had to be an expert in differentiating curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment techniques."
(Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011, p. 2)

the LEAP Learning Framework, originally established in 2016, articulates clear strategies for personalizing learning for students:

 empower learners to understand their needs, strengths, interests and approaches to learning with the "Learner Focused" component of the LEAP learning framework

Elements of Learner Focused Education:
  • Students should develop a deep understanding of needs, interests and strengths around:
  1. Academics
  2. Health & wellness
  3. Social-emotional development
  4. Culture & language
  5. Living situation
  6. Cognitive skills
  • Students should also experience learning that is relevant, contextualized and designed for their individual needs, interests and strengths.

​Elements of Learner Focused Component from the LEAP learning framework:
LEAP Innovations. (2017). LEAP learning framework. Retrieved from https://www.leapinnovations.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/leap-framework-2.pdf

students and teachers create meaningful relationships...

by developing a deep understanding of needs, interests and strengths around: ​
  • Academics
  • ​Health & Wellness
  • Social-Emotional Development
  • Culture & Language
  • Living Situation
  • Cognitive Skills
<
>

1
Academics​

​"When learners choose their own reading material based on their interests, their reading skills improve, in both the elementary and middle grades... Choosing is motivationally empowering when a learner feels competent about the task at hand, but when an individual feels less competent choosing can be debilitating. This emphasizes the need to understand learners perceived strengths when designing lessons and projects." (LEAP, 2017)
Resources for offering choice and supporting student strengths:
​"There are a number of research studies to support the correlation between positive student performance and high, developmentally-appropriate yet rigorous expectations in the classroom. Among the expectations should be those centered on positive peer collaboration which brings students back to a sense of connection. Below are a few really interesting articles that you might find useful as you begin strategizing ways to create more connected learners in your classroom." (Interactive Lecture, Module 1)
How can you assist students in monitoring their own learning? According to the LEAP Innovations (2017), we should allow students to do the following:
  • Co-design their learning experiences
  • Articulate their interests, strengths, and needs
  • Assess, monitor, and reflect on their own progress
  • Partner in setting their learning goals and plans
  • Advocate for support from teachers, peers, technology, and other sources.

Here are some resources to help implement the above suggestions:

2
Health & wellness

"Paying attention to physical and emotional health pays off in improved learning outcomes. That means increasing physical activity and integrating meditation and mindfulness practices into the school day." (LEAP, 2017)

In the following video, Former White House Chef and food policymaker Sam Kass discusses the role schools can play in nourishing students' bodies in addition to their minds:
Links to Goals and techniques for setting them:
  • The HEPA Standards guide for after-school program's decision-making when planning food and activity choices.
  • Here's a 2015 report entitled: America After 3 PM- Kids on the Move
  • You can learn more about Farm to School on their website.
  • This article by Rutgers outlines additional ways schools and local communities can work together to bolster physical education and overall health and wellness for everyone.
  • Check out the CATCH website for more information about The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health

The Walking Classroom is an award-winning nonprofit program that strengthens the physical, mental, and academic health of students while they walk, listen, and learn. Learn more by visiting their website and reviewing these program podcast samples.

Access these critical resources for Colorado educators regarding physical education and how you can promote it, even if it's not the subject area in which you teach or will teach.Below are a couple of links to additional studies on obesity and academic impact that are worth exploring:

3
Social-emotional development

"Integrating social-emotional development into academic lessons improves student behavior, which leads to greater content knowledge and motivation to learn." (LEAP, 2017)

Students are more motivated to learn in an environment where they feel safe and supported. Building relationships with students will encourage them to come to school, do their best, and take risks.
Simmons (2017) identified three ways to build trusting relationships with students:
  • Be Visible
  • Take Interest
  • Listen
Watch the following video about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) which can "help schools be strategic and thoughtful about student behavior, so all students can succeed. Our mini documentary showcases one family and one school who have benefited from the PBIS framework. To learn more, visit http://txchildren.org/PBIS." (TexansCare, 2013)
Resources for building relationships, motivation, positive behaviors and communicating effectively:
Foley (n.d.) suggests teachers "build good relationships with their students by treating them the way they would like to be treated. Simply stated, students want to be treated with respect. Talking down to students or lecturing them about their inadequacies will only irritate or frustrate them. Offering positive reinforcement, being consistent, smiling, and listening to their concerns all help to gain students' trust and friendship" (sec. 1).
Stein (2017) provided the following seven strategies to increase intrinsic motivation within the classroom setting. These strategies promote trust, collaboration, and engagement—all contributing to a positive classroom community.
  • Provide Choice
  • Guide Learners to Take Charge
  • Increase Student Inquiry and Discovery
  • Provide Time
  • Accentuate the Positive
  • Embed Cues
  • Make Use of Brain Breaks
For more information about PBIS, check out the following links:
There are some instructional tools that can assist all students in communicating and monitoring their own behavior; thus, increasing their sense of safety and security within the classroom setting.
  • These visual tools support diverse learning communities. Individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities often have difficulty verbally communicating but have strong visual skills.
  • Visual learners understand what they see more effectively than what they hear.
  • By using visual supports such as objects, photographs, and picture symbols, educators can improve the student's understanding and the ability to communicate (University of Florida, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, n.d.).
  • Boardmaker by Mayer-Johnson, is a tool—a graphic database of Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)—that can be used to create a variety of printed communication and educational materials.

4
Culture & language

"Culturally responsive teaching includes: high academic expectations and using student strengths; cultural competence, where teachers reshape lessons based on the culture of the students; and critical consciousness, where teachers share power, engage in social justice and encourage students to challenge the status quo." (LEAP, 2017)

Briggs (2014) identified traits of a culturally responsive education:
  • Culture Influences Understanding
  • Culture Influences Meaning
  • Culture Influences Perception
  • Culture Influences Personal Growth
  • Culture Influences Experience

​Watch the video below for testimonials about culturally responsive teaching:
Below are important resources to assist in personalizing learning for students. Choose the national organizations that are most relevant to you and your area of focus, and read about their standards or learn how to get involved: Here are some additional resources on student-centered learning:

5
 Living situation

"Parent involvement can improve academic outcomes at school, but it helps when that connection to families goes beyond attending events or volunteering in class. Teachers and parents should create processes to regularly communicate about the student so they can reinforce support at school and home." (LEAP, 2017)

Watch the video below for an introduction to a popular app called Class Dojo for connecting teachers, students and parents:
Resources for getting parents involved:
Edmodo
Ideas for Connecting Families to Student Learning
10 Ideas for Engaging Parents
Connecting with Students Parents

6
Cognitive skills

"The notion that students have specific learning “styles” (visual, auditory or kinesthetic, for example) has largely fallen out of favor with researchers. Learners may prefer to learn new material in different ways, but research now suggests it’s more important to match the way the lesson is taught to the content rather than the learner." (LEAP, 2017)

Watch the two videos below for an explanation of Learning Styles and a TED Talk about changes in perceptions of learning style differentiation:
Resources for Cognitive Skills:
Learning Styles Online 
Pre-assessment is one of the most important aspects of successful differentiation. This 70 question inventory allows students to gain an understanding of their personal preferences in and out of the classroom. This free web-based learning styles inventory also provides a graphical results page for you and your students.

​Connell, J. D. (n.d). Brain-Based Strategies to Reach Every Learner. Scholastic Teaching Resource.
​

The 2017 revised LEAP learning framework

leap supporting research

Personalized Learning Toolkit - navigation