Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher

An essential resource for teachers in inclusive classrooms

This valuable sourcebook offers teachers key strategies on how to design and deliver effective instruction, measure success, and get students to work together. Covering topics such as decoding, vocabulary, blocking, using graphic organizers, mnemonics, literary elements, writing as a process, and doing research, it features dozens of ready-to-use language arts activities that are tied to core curriculum standards, and each activity has adaptations for students with different learning needs.

About This Book vii

About the Authors ix

Acknowledgments xi

Foreword xiii

Part One: Being Successful in the Inclusive Classroom

Chapter 1: Collaborating Effectively 3

Collaborating for Intervention 3

Collaborating with the Child Study Team 4

Collaborating with Parents and Families 13

Tips for Talking with Parents 16

Chapter 2: Preparing for Differentiated Learning 17

Working with Core Curriculum Standards 17

Assessing Learning Styles 18

Multiple Intelligences and Learning Strengths 20

Planning for Students with Special Needs 21

Chapter 3: Effective Teaching Strategies for Differentiating Instruction 25

The Effective Inclusive Classroom 26

Measuring Success 28

Part Two: Language Arts Activities for the Inclusive Middle School Classroom

Chapter 4: Written Language Conventions 33

Activity 1: Identifying Nouns 34

Activity 2: Identifying Action Verbs 39

Activity 3: Auxiliary and Being Verbs 42

Activity 4: Identifying and Using Modifiers 47

Activity 5: Sentence Mechanics 52

Chapter 5: Writing as a Process 57

Activity 1: Steps to Effective Writing 58

Activity 2: Writing a Personal Narrative 63

Activity 3: Writing Clear Instructions 68

Activity 4: Writing an Essay Comparing and Contrasting Events 74

Activity 5: Writing a Descriptive Essay 80

Activity 6: Writing an Argumentative Essay 84

Activity 7: Writing in the First, Second, and Third Person 89

Activity 8: Writing a Research Paper 94

Chapter 6: Reading Skills 101

Activity 1: Vocabulary Building 102

Activity 2: Spelling 106

Activity 3: Oral Reading Fluency 111

Chapter 7: Reading Comprehension 117

Activity 1: Interpreting Textbooks 118

Activity 2: Interpreting Context Clues 123

Activity 3: Sequencing and Finding the Main Idea 128

Activity 4: Comparing and Contrasting 132

Activity 5: Predicting Outcomes 136

Activity 6: Cause-and-Effect Relationships 140

Activity 7: Reading and Writing Poetry 145

Activity 8: Literary Elements 149

Activity 9: Reading for Meaning 155

Chapter 8: Oral Language 161

Activity 1: Listening Skills 162

Activity 2: Oral Presentations 165

How This Book Maps to Education Standards 171

Glossary 177

Bibliography 179

Index 181

Joan D'Amico, M.A., L.D.T.C., is a learning disabilities teacher and consultant in the Garfield School District in New Jersey. She has over 15 years of experience as a learning disabilities teacher and consultant in both public and private schools, and also has a private practice as a learning disabilities specialist.

Kate Gallaway has over 15 years of teaching experience and has worked with districts and teachers nationwide on differentiated instruction.
Joan and Kate are also the co-authors of Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Math Teacher.

Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher is a practical resource for teaching standards-based curricula in inclusive middle school classrooms. The book contains a wealth of lessons that can be modified to reach students with different learning needs and includes proven techniques designed to engage all the students in the classroom. A range of language arts topics are presented, such as decoding, vocabulary, blocking, using graphic organizers, mnemonics, literary elements, writing as a process, doing research, and much more.

Each lesson includes:

• Instructions for presenting the lesson to the whole class

• Worksheets designed to help review and reinforce the concepts presented in each lesson

• A section on how to adapt the lesson for theinclusive classroom

• A home-school connection with family-based everyday language activities

• Suggestions for assessing students' grasp of the concepts presented in the lesson

• Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher is an essential resource for teachers in inclusive classrooms who are seeking new ways to reach their students.

• Praise for Differentiated Instruction for theMiddle School Language Arts Teacher

"The authors of Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher understand that the starting point for effective teaching is not where the book starts or where the last teacher left off, but where the students are. This book provides the teacher with engaging strategies to support diverse learners in the classroom. The approaches can be adapted and applied across the curriculum and give the teacher a valuable toolbox to meet different needs and learning styles. The simple, easy-to-understand explanations give great insights into the how's and why's of making accommodations—plus the techniques can fit into any school budget!"
—Rosemarie Armstrong, World Language Coordinator, Monroe Township, New Jersey

"The activities in Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher are designed to connect with the common experience of children and honor equal status among all students. Varying needs are carefully accommodated through the clear directions, pre-teaching, templates aligned with expectations, and sentence prompts for the less secure writers. Advance d learners are offered challenges, and opportunities to involve parents are provided. This book will be a distinct asset to teachers looking for examples of best practice."
—Edmund Gross, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Carmel Unified School District, California

"What a great resource for the special needs population! Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher includes valuable, motivating, and most of all practical lessons for your learning disabled students—all in one easy to use manual."
—Deborah Rotio, M.Ed., Special Education Department leader, Garfield Middle School, New Jersey