My DS is receiving effective math differentiation in his 2nd grade classroom. He participates in the group "math talk" and then does his own work with manipulatives and pencil-and-paper problem solving, with the teacher drawing materials from 3-5th grade levels. Because the teacher is tuning the work specifically to DS' learning rate and abilities (and weaknesses in self-expression), this is preferrable to us than moving him to a 3rd grade classroom. There he would be learning math at the rate of an average kid who happens to be two years older than him.
DS' teacher has devised this approach with our support. I've described her as having a black belt in differentiation. The degree of DS' differentiation, though, takes a significant amount of dedication from the teacher, and I suspect it's a rare individual that would be so dedicated.
Last edited by geofizz; 12/02/12 05:41 AM.
