Differentiated instruction? Libraries invented it

Differentiated instruction (sometimes referred to as differentiated learning) involves providing students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and to developing teaching materials so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability. Wikipedia

When I was school librarian back when the earth was still cooling, teachers on a pretty regular basis would send kids to library with little notes. The notes usually read something like, "Mildred* has finished the story in the reading series. Can you find something more for her to read?" or "Can you find Philbert some materials on doing an astonomy project?"

Phil's and Mil's teachers were "differentiating instruction" even before the term was invented. Most teachers I knew and worked with tried to find suitable materials and activities for all kids, but especially those on the very high and low end of the ability spectrum. And where were those materials?  In the school library's deliberately built collections of books on a wide range of reading abilities and on a wide range of topics.

Today we have lots of test data about individual students in schools (which has yet to be proven more accurate than gut instinct/observation of experienced teachers) that can be used to match resources with abilities. And someday diagnostic software may expedite and broaden the teacher's ability to match every child with specific online resources.

But until then, the library is ready, willing and able to help with both print and online materials and expertise.

* In all the years I've taught, I don't remember ever having students name Phibert or Mildred.

Become a Gmail power-user

When our district changed e-mail services from Exchange/Outlook/Entourage to GoogleApps for Education's Gmail 15 months ago, I was expecting some complaints. And I wasn't disappointed.

But the those most upset by the change were not those who struggled with technology, but those who took the greatest advantage of Outlooks more advanced features - the power users.

Most of the things that our Outlook power-users liked could also be accomplished using Gmail but not without some tweaking, adding some extra browser helper apps, and just plain doing things a little differently. Threaded e-mail and labels caused the most difficulty for people.

Over the past year, Gmail has made some major improvements. One can choose not to view "threaded" conversation, labels act about like folders once did, and many of the features that once needed helper apps are now a part of Gmail. When I ask staff today, they say they like Gmail. Whew!

Even with the improvements in Gmail, there are still features and functions that "power-users" know and use. In a class I'm creating for staff members, here are the ones I believe are most useful. (I'm trying to stay away from browser add-ons since we have a variety browsers being used.)

1. It's no longer a sin to be disorganized: using "search" in Gmail (and the one link everyone misses).
2. It's not really a drag: drag and drop attachments.
3. Max the toolbar: add pictures, links, and formatting to your messages.
4. See Dr. Google's latest creatures: finding and using "Labs" tools.
5. Never see my name in your inbox again!: the joy of filters.
6. The magic triangle Part I: working with labels and sub-labels.
7. The magic triangle Part II: working with individual messages in a thread.
8. Ready, get settings, go: tweaking your signature, vacation responder, and other cool things.
9. Soft contacts: managing, adding, merging, and creating groups in contacts.
10. Get a makeover: themes.
11. I'm not schizophrenic and neither am I: two Gmail accounts - one browser? No problemo.
12. For road warriors only: checking your mail on your mobile device.

What other things do Gmail power users know how to do?

BFTP: Is it possible to motivate a cynic?

A weekend Blue Skunk "feature" will be a revision of an old post. I'm calling this BFTP: Blast from the Past.

Original post March 24, 2006. I've been thinking a lot about Tim (Assorted Stuff) Stahmer's post: Wasted Inspiration on whether motivational speakers actual do any good. Read the post.

The only consistent feature of all your dissatisfying relationships is you. (Despair, Inc.)

I hate liver. It’s one of the very few foods I would not eat even were I starving. But every once in a while I take a bite of it just to see if anything has changed. So far, I still hate liver.

I feel the same way about “motivational” speakers as I do about liver. I can’t stand them. But now and then I go see one just to see if my tastes have changed. Judging by the fellow who was brought in by our Chamber of Commerce yesterday, even fried and served with onions, I still don’t like ‘em. Why? And what can learn from ‘em anyway?

1. Being too smooth. This guy had every hair in place, a neat little suit, and chubby, oily little face just as smooth as his talk. He’s given basically the same talk, the same way at least 100 times. His enthusiasm was, well, well-rehearsed. He delivered his talk just like Toastmasters taught him to. And he seemed about as sincere as polyester. Lesson: Better to be unscripted with a few surprises. Talk to people. Talk with people. Don’t talk at people.

2. Lacking originality. In the course of 180+ minutes, I did not hear one new joke or story or piece of advice. Not one. He attributed some stories as happening to him that I know I’d read somewhere else before. And I seriously doubt he wrote them originally. One little deception and he lost all credibility for me. Lesson: If you don’t have something original to say, stay quiet. You message doesn’t have to be profound, but it has to be your own. Every joke comes around in e-mail at least once a year. If you’ve read it, so have 90% of the folks in the group you’re speaking to. Write your own material, figure out a way to personalize the old chestnuts, or at least, attribute the source. It’s OK to embellish a story (IMHO), but the core story better be true and it better have happened to you.

3. Coming off as a pompous ass. It got real old, real quick hearing how darned good the guy was to his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his friends, the world at large, etc. Made me pretty much want to upchuck. Anybody that holier-than-thou, I  figure has to have some real deep-down dark secret. I am guessing he was wearing women's lingerie under that suit. Lesson: Don’t be the hero of your own stories. Screw-ups are more interesting than successes. Sinners are more fun than saints.

4. Offering trite platitudes. Yeah, yeah. I know that “attitude” is everything. I know people like compliments. I know you should be creative. I know you need to listen. Tell me something I don’t already know. Lesson: Offer some different advice. Larry Winget , the only “motivational” speaker I’ve found I actually enjoy, simply says:

Shut up.
Stop whining.
Get a life.

Now there is advice one doesn’t hear everyday – but most of us need.

Most of the others in the audience yesterday with me were business people . When the speaker asked, “How do you show people you value them?” the stock answers popped up – compliment, celebrate, recognize, etc. I didn’t hear one person mention, “Pay a living wage.” or “Provide health care benefits.” Now in my mind, those would be motivators.

But then, I’m a cynic.