Restructuring the Inclusion

Classroom to Facilitate
Differentiated Instruction
Joshua L. Patterson, Mindy C. Connolly &
Shirley A. Ritter

By: Nick Hanna

Essential Question

How can an inclusion classroom

be differentiated?

What is an Inclusion Classroom?

Aninclusiveclassroomisageneraleducationclassroomin
whichstudentswithandwithoutdisabilitieslearntogether.Itis
essentiallytheoppositeofaspecialeducationclassroom,
wherestudentswithdisabilitieslearnwithonlyotherstudents
withdisabilities.

Do you think this leads

to more dumbed
down instruction or
teaching up
instruction?

According to the text

In an inclusion class with students of mixed abilities,
differentiated instruction allows the teacher to meet the
needs of every learner by providing students with
multiple options for learning allowing each student to
make his or her meaning from what is being taught, and
enabling each student to individually express what he or
she has learned

Spartan Middle School

790 students (6th-8th grade)
Demographics
White- 44%
African American- 35%
Hispanic- 14%
Other Ethnicities- 7%

Other Statistics
75% receive free or reduced lunch
What are some thoughts/insights you have
about the school from the demographics and
statistics?

13% receive special education

services

Spartan Middle School

6th Grade Inclusion Math Class
18 Total Students (very small )
Demographics

White 50% (9 students)

African American 28% (5

students)

Hispanic 17% (3 students)

Asian 5% (1 student)

Other Statistics

89% of the students receive services (504 Plan or IEP*)

11% - Previously retained

67% - receive free or reduced lunch

28% - ELL students

*Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Even with two of us, it doesnt seem to

be meeting the needs of our students
- Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Connoly

Do you think this is a common thought

Among co-teachers? Why?

The Problem
Mr. Robinson taught math in a very traditional method
One teach, one assist
Students do not grow to become independent learners,
they depend on the teacher to always assist them.
Is it always bad to teach this way?
What are some ways they could
differentiate?

Strategies of Co-Teaching
One teach, One assist
One Teach, One Observe
Parallel Teaching
Alternative Teaching
Station Teaching
Team Teaching

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How they Addressed the Problem

Differentiate the type of instruction

Divide class into 4 small groups by

ability and personality (each group was
a color and students were numbered)

Each group member has a role in the

group

A/B Class Schedule

4 Part Instructional Model

Alternative Teaching

Another example of Alternative or

Differentiated Co-Teaching

Results of Differentiation
Academics

81% of the students made improvements from the time the

differentiated instruction was introduced until the Final at the end of the
year

Student Survey

87% preferred the current class over the original class layout

87% were learning better with the current class

87% felt more confident in class

95% felt more comfortable in class

92% felt they received more individualize attention

Essential Question

How can an inclusion classrooms

be differentiated?

Resource
Patterson, J. L., Connolly, M. C., & Ritter, S. A. (2009). Restructuring the Inclusion
Classroom to Facilitate Differentiated Instruction. Middle School Journal, (1).
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