Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Literature Review: Differentiated Instruction

Collette Sanchez
National University

LITERATURE REVIEW: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Abstract
This paper is a Literature Review on the textbook Differentiated Instruction: The Rule of Foot by
Linda D. Ventriglia. Included are the benefits of using this textbook in the classroom to create
differentiated instruction and assessments that are in alignment with The Common Core State
Standards Initiative. This book supports the Teacher Performance Expectation Domain C:
Engaging and Supporting Students in Learning.

LITERATURE REVIEW: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Literature Review
Differentiated Instruction: The Rule of Foot (2013) by Linda D. Ventriglia is an essential
resource for teachers because it gives systematic methods for understanding the differentiated
classroom and implementing best practices for differentiated instruction in the classroom.
Interwoven throughout the text are rationales for how the strategies in differentiated instruction
apply to the Common Core initiative. This book was instrumental towards my understanding of
how to integrate differentiated instruction as well as compose differentiated assessments for my
classes, a required best practice in teaching. In fact, this book taught me to not look at any of my
classes as the same and that each lesson I design should be modified to each class and to each of
the individual learners within them. Although designing lessons in this way is more time
consuming I find that more of my students understand the curriculum. It actually saves more
time in the long run because I do not having to go back and redesign the whole lesson if most of
my students arent understanding it the first time. Student achievement is based on quality
teaching (Ventriglia, 2013)
Differentiated Instruction: The Rule of Foot supports the Teacher Performance
Expectation Domain C: Engaging and Supporting Students in Learning (2013) because the book
provides strategies on my two favorite strategies: small flexible groups and differentiation of a
product, specifically for students of multiple intelligences, students with special needs and
English language learners. Ventriglia (2013) relates flexible grouping to once a yellowbird, not
always a yellowbird to emphasize that small groups are constantly reconfigured in order to
maintain differentiated learning, as well as for the purpose to informally assess each student
under various skills and scenarios. She goes on to discuss differentiating the product or final
outcome to ensure students are applying the learning in a variety of ways,

LITERATURE REVIEW: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Students apply major portions of their learning through the creation of products.
Products include creations and demonstrations. Students may: create essays using
persuasive writing, complete research projects; invent recipes; create commercials; solve
mathematical problems; or create algebraic equations Students can choose to show
their understanding of mathematical principles by creating three dimensional building
designs.
Of course, the textbook is aimed to lead teachers to design instruction that complies with
the Common Core (2015), which is essential for the turn of education in the United States these
days. Teachers are required to implement reading and writing in all lesson plans in order to
prepare students for college-readiness and career paths. Differentiated Instruction: The Rule of
Foot teaches engagements strategies that are supported by best practices and are in alignment
with 21st century skills.

LITERATURE REVIEW: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

References
Ventriglia, L.D. (2013) Differentiated instruction: The rule of foot. YoungLight Educate
Teacher Performance Expectation (2013) Retrieved January 30, 2016, from
http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/TPA-files/TPEs-Full-Version.pdf
The Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2015). Retrieved January 30, 2016, from
http://www.corestandards.org/