How Teachers Make Decisions in Response to Professional Learning: A Study on Grade 3 Differentiation in Mathematics

Abstract

This study used a mixed-methods design to examine teachers’ responses to professional learning on mathematics differentiation. Grade 3 classroom teachers ( N = 28) attended four 2-h professional learning sessions and an additional 2 h individually on differentiation and completed pre- and post-surveys with quantitative and short response items assessing their experiences. Although teachers did not report changes in overall differentiation rates, implementation of less extensive practices (i.e., talk moves and mathematical practices) increased. Changes did not appear to be driven by teachers’ valuation of differentiation, which was high across surveys. Rather, a thematic analysis indicated that teachers simultaneously weighed benefits, challenges, and alignment with existing practices when making decisions about whether to implement differentiation strategies.