Differentiated Instruction for the Middle School Language Arts Teacher

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.

• About This Book viiAbout the Authors ixAcknowledgments xiForeword xiiiPart One: Being Successful in the Inclusive ClassroomChapter 1: Collaborating Effectively 3Collaborating for Intervention 3Collaborating with the Child Study Team 4Collaborating with Parents and Families 13Tips for Talking with Parents 16Chapter 2: Preparing for Differentiated Learning 17Working with Core Curriculum Standards 17Assessing Learning Styles 18Multiple Intelligences and Learning Strengths 20Planning for Students with Special Needs 21Chapter 3: Effective Teaching Strategies for Differentiating Instruction 25The Effective Inclusive Classroom 26Measuring Success 28Part Two: Language Arts Activities for the Inclusive Middle School ClassroomChapter 4: Written Language Conventions 33Activity 1: Identifying Nouns 34Activity 2: Identifying Action Verbs 39Activity 3: Auxiliary and Being Verbs 42Activity 4: Identifying and Using Modifiers 47Activity 5: Sentence Mechanics 52Chapter 5: Writing as a Process 57Activity 1: Steps to Effective Writing 58Activity 2: Writing a Personal Narrative 63Activity 3: Writing Clear Instructions 68Activity 4: Writing an Essay Comparing and Contrasting Events 74Activity 5: Writing a Descriptive Essay 80Activity 6: Writing an Argumentative Essay 84Activity 7: Writing in the First, Second, and Third Person 89Activity 8: Writing a Research Paper 94Chapter 6: Reading Skills 101Activity 1: Vocabulary Building 102Activity 2: Spelling 106Activity 3: Oral Reading Fluency 111Chapter 7: Reading Comprehension 117Activity 1: Interpreting Textbooks 118Activity 2: Interpreting Context Clues 123Activity 3: Sequencing and Finding the Main Idea 128Activity 4: Comparing and Contrasting 132Activity 5: Predicting Outcomes 136Activity 6: Cause-and-Effect Relationships 140Activity 7: Reading and Writing Poetry 145Activity 8: Literary Elements 149Activity 9: Reading for Meaning 155Chapter 8: Oral Language 161Activity 1: Listening Skills 162Activity 2: Oral Presentations 165How This Book Maps to Education Standards 171Glossary 177Bibliography 179Index 181