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Differentiation Defined:
Differentiation Defined:
Differentiation is the teacher's acknowledgement of the various types of learners in their classroom and how they adapt their teaching to meet the needs of those learners. It is the shift in belief that all students need to be taught exactly the same, "but all students getting what they need" (Alber 2010). Differentiation requires teachers to take the time to understand their students' strengths, weakness, and learning styles to create the best learning experience possible. Differentiated instruction involves teachers determining the essential content and skills their students need to learn and developing a variety of avenues for them to learn and show mastery.
Differentiation is the teacher's acknowledgement of the various types of learners in their classroom and how they adapt their teaching to meet the needs of those learners. It is the shift in belief that all students need to be taught exactly the same, "but all students getting what they need" (Alber 2010). Differentiation requires teachers to take the time to understand their students' strengths, weakness, and learning styles to create the best learning experience possible. Differentiated instruction involves teachers determining the essential content and skills their students need to learn and developing a variety of avenues for them to learn and show mastery.
Differentiation: What is vs. what it is not
Differentiation: What is vs. what it is not
Myth: Differentiation Is Too Time Consuming
Myth: Differentiation Is Too Time Consuming
Differentiating your lessons does NOT mean you are creating a different lesson for each individual student in your classroom. It means finding the overlap of understanding and needs within your class and designing lessons that reach as many learners as possible. "The key to differentiation is to consider student needs when planning your lessons and build differentiation into your structures and routines" (Watson 2018). Not every attempt at differentiation will be successful, but if you take the time to experiment with different means of differentiated instruction, you will be able to create a possible learning experience for your students.
Differentiating your lessons does NOT mean you are creating a different lesson for each individual student in your classroom. It means finding the overlap of understanding and needs within your class and designing lessons that reach as many learners as possible. "The key to differentiation is to consider student needs when planning your lessons and build differentiation into your structures and routines" (Watson 2018). Not every attempt at differentiation will be successful, but if you take the time to experiment with different means of differentiated instruction, you will be able to create a possible learning experience for your students.
Examples of Differentiation
Examples of Differentiation
Extra time on an assignment - provide extra time for select students to complete the whole assignment
Extra time on an assignment - provide extra time for select students to complete the whole assignment
Reducing assignment lengths - shorten assignments to help students that may be overwhelmed or unable to to complete large assignments
Reducing assignment lengths - shorten assignments to help students that may be overwhelmed or unable to to complete large assignments
Alternative assignments/projects - focus on the basic purpose of the task and design an alternative way to have the student show comprehension
Alternative assignments/projects - focus on the basic purpose of the task and design an alternative way to have the student show comprehension
Simplify content - break content down to the essential information
Simplify content - break content down to the essential information
Adjusting reading level of a text- ensure that the content is an appropriate reading level for a student
Adjusting reading level of a text- ensure that the content is an appropriate reading level for a student
Graphic organizers and guided notes - help students trouble reading and writing by simplifying their note taking process and improve organization skills
Graphic organizers and guided notes - help students trouble reading and writing by simplifying their note taking process and improve organization skills
Student choice - provide students with different means to show comprehension and mastery
Student choice - provide students with different means to show comprehension and mastery
Audio books - allow auditory learners to listen to the audiobook version of the assigned text
Audio books - allow auditory learners to listen to the audiobook version of the assigned text
Alternative presentations - allow students that struggle with speaking in front of others to record their presentations or do them in front of a few peers instead of the entire class
Alternative presentations - allow students that struggle with speaking in front of others to record their presentations or do them in front of a few peers instead of the entire class
Differentiation Resources
Differentiation Resources
Characteristics-of-Differentiated-Instruction_infographic.pdfCharacteristics of Differentiation
Characteristics of Differentiation
A helpful breakdown of the different characteristics of differentiation.
Source: From The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners (2nd ed., p. 20), by Tomlinson, C.A., 2014, Alexandria, VA: ASCD. © 2014 by ASCD. All rights reserved.A helpful breakdown of the different characteristics of differentiation.
Differentiated Instruction Student Profile.pdfStudent Profile Template
Student Profile Template
A profile template that can assist with determining a student's area of need(s).
A profile template that can assist with determining a student's area of need(s).
References
Alber, R. (2010, April 13). Defining differentiated instruction. [Blog Post] Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-definition-strategies-alber
Watson, A. (Producer). (2018). Truth for teachers: Real talk on how to make differentiation less time-consuming. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from: https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/differentiated-teaching-strategies/
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