Understanding by Design and Differentiated Instruction are both very helpful in producing effective lessons. By using the Understanding by Design we are able to create lessons by looking at the main idea of what we want our students to learn and the breaking it down into individual concepts and sections. This is easier for us to keep track of our main goal in teaching and allows us to stay on a direct path toward learning. Typically by using the design we are able to avoid including assignments and lessons that are unrelated to the material being taught at the time. It also allows for sequential learning. With differentiated instruction we are able to address to learning needs of all of our students. We are aware of the different learner types and can mold our lessons so that we implement various teaching strategies. This is essential to a productive classroom because not all students learn in the same ways and it is important that we provide an equal learning opportunity for everyone in the class.
My question to fellow tutors is: Although we are only in our PDS one day a week, I believe that it is important for us to begin practicing the Backward Design Plan. In doing so, do you all coordinate with your host teachers and focus on a particular area of focus from their lesson plan? Or do you create your own lesson based on what you want the students to learn and work your way down from that?
