Differentiating Instruction: A Practical Guide to Tiered Lessons for the Elementary Grades

This easy-to-use, teacher-friendly book is a must-have for any educator wanting to differentiate instruction for the gifted or regular classroom. Differentiating instruction has become an integral part of classroom instruction, and tiering lessons is a practical, easy, and efficient way to ensure the various needs and learning levels of elementary students are met.

The authors provide a summary of the process, with detailed instructions for tiering lessons for the elementary grades. Also included are tips for grouping students by interest, learning style, or ability level; a template for creating your own tiered lessons; and a concise resource section for differentiating and preparing lessons.

Ten concise sample lessons and two tiered units, covering the math, science, language arts, and social studies disciplines, also are included for teacher use. Differentiating instruction will take on a new meaning in your classroom as you implement these fun, engaging, and student-friendly lessons.

Cheryll M. Adams is director of the Center for Gifted Studies and Talent Development at Ball State University. She teaches graduate courses for the license in gifted education. For the past 25 years, she has served in the field of gifted education as a teacher of gifted students at all grade levels, Director of Academic Life at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, and as the principal teacher in the Ball State Institute for the Gifted in Mathematics program. Additionally, she has been the founder and director of various other programs for gifted students. Dr. Adams has authored or coauthored numerous publications in professional journals, as well as several book chapters. She serves on the editorial review board for Roeper Review, Gifted Child Quarterly, Journal for the Education of the Gifted, and The Teacher Educator. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children, has been president of the Indiana Association for the Gifted, and currently serves on the board of The Association for the Gifted, Council for Exceptional Children. In 2002, she received the NAGC Early Leader Award.

Rebecca L. Pierce is Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Ball State University and fellow at the Center for Gifted Studies and Talent Development. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics and statistics. For the last 30 years, Dr. Pierce has taught mathematics to elementary, middle school, high school, and college students. Dr. Pierce directs the Ball State Institute for the Gifted in Mathematics. Additionally, she worked as a Senior Research Engineer for Bell Helicopter and as a statistical consultant for a variety of industries. She has authored or coauthored numerous publications in professional journals, as well as several book chapters. She serves as a reviewer for Roeper Review, Gifted Child Quartely, Journal for the Education of the Gifted, and The Teacher Educator. She received the Leadership Award from the Indiana Association for the Gifted in 2002.