Week 13: VTS Through a Differentiated Lens

·      Consider the Tomlinson & Johnson articles through a VTS lens

o   In what ways has VTS provided differentiation for students of all abilities and needs in your focus class?

After reading the articles, I really feel the one created VTS is super smart. Because trough differentiated lens, I find a new way to understand why VTS is a strategy that is so useful to develop students’ abilities in every aspects. When we select the VTS image for certain class, the differentiation has already started. We always choose the image for appropriate age, abilities, interests and needs. It is good for students to have the chance to develop and have some challenges. I let my students do VTS as a part of my art- making class, it really give them more options to create different things and meet their different needs.

o   What have you observed in your VTS teaching that makes you say that? (In other words, provide 2-3 thoughtful, reflective, and concrete examples!)

I am so lucky to work with two gifted two kids, they develop fast (although we just meet every two weeks). Every time I find them surprise me in certain area, I will choose a more complicated image to give them the right challenge. It is easy to handle just two students, and can always meet their needs in order to let them improve more. When they doing art making, I asked them to talk about what they have learnt in VTS image first, and put this element into their art making. This really gives them more options and let them do the things they are more interested in. I think the differentiation makes them love art more and develop a lot.