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CCSS & Differentiated Classrooms

Standards for Mathematics
Standards for Mathematics provide different types of expertise that provide specificity and
clarity to mathematics educators. They are practices that are founded on high quality “processes
and proficiencies” for providing mathematical instruction (Common Core State Standards
Initiative, 2020). They define what learners should know, comprehend, and be in a position to do
as they learn during math lessons. They concentrate on a set of math concepts and skills. They
ensure that learners study mathematics in an organized way and are able to use their learned
skills to solve problems that they will encounter in their lives.
Standards for English language arts
Standards for English language arts ensure that students get focused instruction all year
round at all the different level grades. Learners gain satisfactory exposure to a wide variety of
tasks and tasks. The standards ensure that students are taught how to write, read, listen, speak,
and make effective use of language. Thus, they foster the understanding of literacy skills and
enhance students’ college and career readiness.
Common Core State Standards initiative
Common Core State Standards Initiative is an educational initiative that is sponsored by
the National Governors Association in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School
Officers. The initiative was launched in 2010, and its purpose is to show what students should
know by the time they get to K-12 in mathematics and English Language arts at the completion
of each grade level in schools in the United States (ASCD, 2020). The standards have an

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academic impact as they are internationally benchmarked and supported by evidence that shows
that their mastery by students enhances their preparedness for college and the workforce. They
are intended to be accessible to the students and parents, and impactful to the classroom teacher.
The adoption of the standards is aimed at ensuring alignment occurs at all levels, and learners get
the best.
Differentiated Instruction and CCSS
The CCSS are designed to be relevant, rigorous and robust. They aim at helping students
achieve higher-level thinking, engage in critical thinking and achieve high expectations. They are
also student-centred and aim at enhancing engagement and learner participation. Differentiated
instruction ensures that each learner receives personalized instruction (K-12 Blueprint, 2020).
Instruction is packaged depending on learning needs, specific interests, and learning preferences
of different learners. Since each learner is unique, CCSS makes sense only if the instruction is
differentiated. Thus, differentiation instruction strategies are essential in ensuring that by the end
of K-12, diverse learners are well prepared for higher education.
Differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of
the CCSS for mathematics
 Use prodigy
Prodigy is an example of an educational math video that delivers differentiated content. It adjusts
the questions that students will tackle and provides math problems in different formats such as
charts and pictures, words, as well as numerically.
 Relate math to real-life examples and personal interests

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Linking math to everyday examples can help students understand certain concepts. It helps turn
concepts from an abstract form to one which learners can relate with, and this fosters
understanding.
 Use Number Puzzles
Number puzzles are effective in making maths enjoyable; they foster confidence and help
learners grasp mathematical concepts with much ease.
 Use Mathseeds
Mathseeds is an online classroom tool that uses catchy songs and colorful graphics and visuals to
demonstrate mathematical concepts. It makes math lessons engaging and fun. The use of graphic
appeals to visual learners.
 Create learning stations
Have learning stations in the classrooms without mandatory rotations. These provide differenced
learning opportunities for learners during math lessons. Students get to study in unique
classroom settings where they are not mandated to rotate. Those that want to rotate can do so,
and this is effective for kinesthetic learners.
Differentiated strategies, tools, or activities that will support teachers’ implementation of
the CCSS for English language arts.
The use of tools, activities, and strategies that are differentiated enhance learning and
inclusivity in a classroom comprising of diverse learners. The following are some activities
and strategies to use:
 Run literature Circles

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Literature circles are used by organizing students into groups where they read and discuss
assigned texts together. They are effective in helping students shape and inform each other. They
also help participatory and auditory learners to learn better and retain more information.

 Homogenous grouping

Grouping students with similar learning styles encourages collaboration as students have
common thinking and work practices.

 Using a wide range of reading comprehension activities

Allowing students to choose between a list of activities such as writing a traditional report,
delivering a presentation, performing a monologue, and illustrating key points by creating visual
helps learners to demonstrate their understanding of learnt content in ways that align with their
learning styles.

 Play games

Different games, such as dictionary race and alphabetical order race, are different ways through
which learners learn. They engage in different activities, have fun and learn at the same time.
Games help break monotony and boredom during lessons. They are effective with kinesthetic
and auditory learners.
 Teach up

Teaching up is a differentiated strategy where teaching reaches advanced concept levels. Starting
with high-end curriculum and goals and differentiating through scaffolding helps to challenge
learners to want to know more. It helps eliminate laxity.

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References

ASCD. (2020). Common Core State Standards. Ascd.org. Retrieved 10 August 2020, from
http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/policy/CommonCoreStds.pdf.
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2020). Mathematics Standards | Common Core State
Standards Initiative. Corestandards.org. Retrieved 10 August 2020, from
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/.
K-12 Blueprint. (2020). Common Core Standards and Differentiated Instruction. K12blueprint.com.
Retrieved 10 August 2020, from https://www.k12blueprint.com/sites/default/files/CC-
Differentiated-Instruction.pdf.