Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction is a term thrown around every day in our school. Administrators tell teachers they must differentiate the instruction. Teachers say they are differentiating their instruction. Are we really succeeding at doing this? Is it actually possible to differentiate our instruction completely that it accommodates all of our students?
By the year 2050, whites will be a minority in the United States. Our schools are becoming more diverse and multi-cultural. Our classrooms are becoming more packed each day with students with different backgrounds and abilities. More kids are being diagnosed with learning disabilities than ever before. More regulations are granting students with exceptionalities access into the regular classrooms. This will all be taken care of by the teacher who differentiates his/her instruction?
Teaching is probably the most difficult profession out there nowadays. Teachers must prep each night, come in each day, and deal with dozens of "clients" each day, all from different backgrounds, all at the same time. The teacher is not only there to spit out information. They are there to teach. They are there to reach each and every single student: visual students, tactile students, auditory students. Teachers who stand at the front of the room and lecture will never reach everyone. Teachers need to use visual aids, class projects, lecture, and keep adding to the mix to reach all students in the class. With a bit of creativity and drive, teachers can achieve this successfully. It's just a matter of being up for today's challenge.

Joseph Kastan