I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked this question in the last year or so. A quick Google reveals very little in the way of teacher resources on a topic that is fundamental to effective teaching and learning, and teacher forums are awash with folk trying to make sense of what Ofsted calls:

‘the matching of work to the differing capabilities of individuals or groups of learners in order to extend their learning.’

So why could I find so little published material? A teacher and academic whose view I respect told me this:

 ’My heart often sinks when I hear the word ‘differentiation’ as it’s a deeply problematic concept unless handled with great insight.’

That would be it then. He’s right.

Further, differentiation has increasingly become a political issue, bound up as it is with the equally problematic concept of ‘ability’ and how students are grouped. I spent an evening recently with the mother of an 11 year old whose school streams children at the end of year 7. Her bright, articulate, quirky child’s test scores don’t hold up well enough to get him into the A or B stream. For the next 4 years he’s relegated to the C stream for every single subject. She’s distraught, he’s inconsolable and the school is responsible.

I used to work with a colleague whose view was that mixed ability grouping was ‘the least wrong way’ of organising and teaching students. Among teachers and parents his opinion was just as controversial as the streaming/banding brigade’s, though I don’t recall any student ever complaining and, looking back, it’s one of the happiest environments I ever taught in.

Make of that what you will, but as Managing Editor of Teachers’ Pocketbooks, I felt the Series should be able to provide the ‘Have you got anything on differentiation?’ crowd with something both intellectually robust and soundly practical. Truth to tell, I had masses on differentiation – in my head. I needed to find an author who could distil the research, cut through the misunderstandings, draw on classroom experience, and cover the ground in an accessible way. No mean feat, as author Peter Anstee (see his earlier blog on labelling) will readily admit.

However, we’ve done it! And we hope we’ve done it well. The Differentiation Pocketbook will be published in July 2011. It deals with the theory of ability, potential and difference; looks at around 30 different ways of differentiating; and focuses throughout on the kind of challenge and support that enables all children to flourish.

You can order copies (£7.99 + p&p) as from today, either online from www.teacherspocketbooks.co.uk or by:

• phone (01962 735573)
• fax (01962 733637)
• email (sales@teacherspocketbooks.co.uk).

Happy reading and do let us have your feedback.

PocketbookLinda