14. A teacher plans to use data on a student's performance in various areas of literacy instruction to plan differentiated instruction that best meets the needs of the individual student. In which of the following activities does the teacher differentiate instruction by allowing a student to self-select a type of project that demonstrates the student's mastery of the content that has been taught?
Answer: D
Allowing the student to build a diorama that illustrates the resolution of a problem in a story that has been read
Differentiating instruction involves providing students with choices that cater to their individual learning preferences and strengths. By allowing the student to create a diorama, the teacher is enabling the student to demonstrate mastery of the content in a way that is personally meaningful and engaging.
A) Providing numerous opportunities for a student that is a strong auditory learner to listen to audio books online
While this option offers a supportive resource for an auditory learner, it does not allow the student to self-select a project type that demonstrates mastery. Instead, it focuses on providing a specific instructional method rather than a choice of project.
B) Allowing the student that chooses to work with peers to read a book of shared interest together in a cooperative group
This option encourages collaboration and engagement among students but does not involve self-selection of a project type. It focuses more on cooperative learning rather than allowing the student to independently decide how to demonstrate their understanding.
C) Asking the student with moderate understanding of a topic to read a text independently and then reread the text with a peer
This choice emphasizes reading comprehension and peer support, but it does not provide the student with the opportunity to select a project type. It is more about reinforcing understanding through reading rather than demonstrating mastery through a self-chosen project.
D) Allowing the student to build a diorama that illustrates the resolution of a problem in a story that has been read
This option exemplifies differentiated instruction by giving the student the autonomy to choose a creative project format that aligns with their interests and strengths. By constructing a diorama, the student can showcase their understanding and interpretation of the story's content in a personalized way.
Conclusion
The choice of allowing the student to build a diorama not only facilitates self-expression but also aligns with the core concept of differentiated instruction by meeting individual learning needs. In contrast, the other options focus on specific instructional strategies that do not empower the student to select how they wish to demonstrate their learning, making them less effective in achieving true differentiation.