Running Head: Literature Review Domain APage 1

Week 1 Literature Review Domain A

Lauren Coleman
National University

In partial fulfillment for the requirements for TED 690

Professor Clifton Johnson
June 3, 2016

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Abstract

This literature review focuses on Best Practices: Differentiated Instruction: The

Rule of Foot: Applying The Common Core State Standards by Linda Ventriglia, Ph.D. and
its significance towards my growth in Domain A of the Teacher Performance
Expectations.

Literature Review Domain A

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Literature Review

Author: Linda D. Ventriglia, Ph.D.

Title: Best Practices: Differentiated Instruction: The Rule of Foot: Applying The
Common Core State Standards
Publisher: YounglightEducate
Year: 2013
Summary
The books premise is that student achievement is correlated with the quality of
teaching. Ventriglia (2013) notes, Student achievement is based on quality teaching.
High quality teaching, along with stimulating interaction between students and teachers,
ensures all students academic success (p. v). There are nine chapters that offer various
principles of differentiated instruction. There are seven basic principles that include but
are not limited to: appreciating students learning differences, using a combination of
instructional methods, aligning content instruction with assessment, and giving every
student access to the core curriculum.
I chose to focus heavily on Chapter 1 Differentiated Classroom Instruction: The
Rule of Foot. Domain A is centered around organizing the curriculum to enable all
students to learn and use the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified in specific
Multiple Subject or Single Subject content areas. In Chapter 1, Dr. Ventriglia uses
Cinderellas story to relay her point that each student has their own shoe that fits and
the one size fits all teaching approach is not an effective method for student learning and
mastery. Ventriglia (2013) continues to belabor her point, students who are at various
levels of proficiency need access to the content standards, both at their grade levels and at

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their skills of mastery. The role of the teacher is to design systematic instructional
support using resources that accelerate content learning for all students (p. 3). The
leading principle of differentiated instruction is a blend of whole group, small group, and
individualized instruction. This ties directly into Domain A because differentiated
instruction allows students multiple opportunities to receive content instruction in a
manner that best fits their own personal learning style. Ventriglia (2013) notes,
differentiated instruction provides students with a variety of learning opportunities to give
them access to the core curriculum. The core curriculum focuses on the content
standards (p. 9). Lastly, she highlights that quality of instruction is not based on the
quantity of assignments; rather the instruction is modified to match the students levels of
proficiencies. Quality instruction gives students the opportunity to advance to higherlevel thinking and problem-solving.
Reflection and Review
This is one of a handful of books that I have chosen to keep after completing the
coursework towards my multiple- subject teaching credential. I think it highlights the
key components of Domain A. The teacher is the organizer, provider, deliverer and
adjuster of the information students receive in order to successfully move forward with
future lessons. Ventriglia hits this nail on the head with differentiated instruction. Her
book is encouraging, easy to read, and offers many real world examples. There are even
procedural checklists that I can use as a teacher to make sure Im providing students with
equal learning opportunities. I highly recommend both new and veteran teachers have
this books in the teaching library.