Chapter 5: Tiering Assessments

Tiering is when a teacher adjusts assignments and assessments to suit students’ abilities and interests. It does not mean less work for students having a harder time and more work for students who have already grasped the concepts. Through the use of tiering, teachers are able to provide assignments for all students based on their readiness level that will still allow them to meet standards and expectations. Learning contracts, learning menus, and tic-tac-toe boards are great examples of using tiering to suit students’ needs and interests while still bringing them up to speed on the gaining of required knowledge. Like most things in teaching, tiering is a learned skill and the more it is practiced, the better we are able to do it. In order to teach in a differentiated classroom, we need to be able to tier and do so effectively. In my classroom, I will need to fully understand my students and their needs as well as the standards they need to meet in order to tier effectively. Giving students options and say in how I will do this will be a great way to involve them in their learning and show me what I need to know about them.