Supporting Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Design of Differentiated Instruction with a Transparent Lesson Plan Template

Authors

Charlotte A. Mundy-Henderson, Columbus State UniversityFollow
Aaron Gierhart
Saoussan Maarouf

Abstract

Planning and differentiation are key components of elementary teachers’ work in classrooms. Therefore, teacher education programs must prepare their preservice teachers for this future responsibility. This study examines how the integration of a more targeted lesson plan template and increased explicit in-class instruction impacts preservice teachers’ knowledge and implementation of differentiated instruction in an Elementary Education teacher certification program. Findings indicate that the new, more targeted lesson plan template and increased time dedicated to explicit differentiated instruction across the Elementary Education program led candidates to feel more knowledgeable about differentiated instruction and how to design and implement instruction for diverse learners. There were also areas in which our preservice teachers felt the program could improve, both within course instruction and regarding the lesson plan template.

Author's Biographies

Dr. Charlotte Mundy-Henderson is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education in the College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University. Her research interests include literacy and preservice/ inservice teacher education in elementary and special education.

Dr. Aaron Gierhart is an assistant professor in the College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University. His research interests include (critical) digital pedagogy, narratives of pedagogy, and teacher education.

Dr. Saoussan Maarouf is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education at the College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University. Her current research interests include cognitive development in early childhood, diversity in the classroom, and classroom assessment.

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Recommended Citation

Mundy-Henderson, C. A., Gierhart, A., & Maarouf, S. (2023). Supporting Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Design of Differentiated Instruction with a Transparent Lesson Plan Template. Perspectives In Learning, 20 (2). Retrieved from https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/pil/vol20/iss2/3