Understanding Differentiation
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What does 鈥淒ifferentiation鈥� Mean?
It is most often not different curriculum content, but just differing the鈥�
- quantity
- time or pace
- support
- resources
- difficulty
- product choice
- assistance
- goals
Every student is required to learn their grade level standards. Once they have learned them, it鈥檚 important for them to have opportunities to keep moving forward.
Differentiation is鈥�
- Students and teachers collaborating in learning
- Respecting prior knowledge and readiness levels of students
- Considering students鈥� needs and abilities when planning
- Assessing prior to, during, and after a unit of study
- Assessing students in multiple ways
- Allowing for choice in the demonstration of knowledge
- Incorporating critical thinking skills
- Having high expectations for all students
- Using time flexibly, based on student need
- Working with students to establish whole class and individual learning goals
What Differentiation is not鈥�
- Assigning more work to students who finish early
- Asking students to teach material they have mastered to others
- Giving every student an individual assignment
- Finding a student鈥檚 deficit and then having the student practice that skill indefinitely
- Only assessing students at the end of learning to see 鈥渨ho got it鈥�
4 Ways to See Differentiation in the Classroom
Instructional Strategies Used for Differentiation