Oiling Out the Kinks *Updated*

I've been trying very hard this year to make my classroom more learner centered rather than teacher centered.  I've been taking the things I'm learning in my Master's classes to heart.  One of my favorite classes so far has been the Differentiated Instruction class.  I'm trying to make my classroom more available to every type of learner rather than one.

Here is a short list of some of the things I'm working on:

• Leveled Grouping
• When they take the pre-test for me before a unit starts, I split them into High, Low and At Level groups.  This determines what kind of work they will do throughout the unit.
• Choices for Work
• For homework, students are able to choose between the book work (which is leveled) or a 'One-Pager' which is a more artistic/creative way for them to show me what they've learned.
• Students are also able to choose what literature they want to study.  I have a list of over 100 books that they may choose from as Lit Studies, and they turn in work every other week for me to check their progress.  This allows for students to choose books they're actually interested in and for them to be able to read books that are at their individual levels.
• Next year I plan on actually labeling each book with a level and having the students test throughout the year so they know what level they're at.
• Individualized Practice
• Using the Galileo test that my school utilizes, I figure out what standards each student needs to practice.  I give them worksheets that they must complete by the end of the week that leads them to practice those standards.  They love the various worksheets I provide, and that it's easy points for them.
• Pre and Post Tests
• I have been very religious about administering a pre-test for each unit (which determines the leveled groups) and then giving them the same test for a post-test.  This allows me to see that the students actually grew during the unit.  The pre-test isn't worth points, but the final is.

I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I have noticed a huge difference in my teaching and in my students' learning.  I will try to go into detail later about specifically what I'm doing in my classroom.