Differentiated Instruction

What IS Differentiated Instruction?

Differentiation is not a new trend. It is based upon best practices in education and has become especially relevant in today’s standards-based classrooms. Differentiating instruction responds to students’ progress on a learning continuum—identifying what a student already knows and prescribing what a student needs to learn. Differentiated instruction is rigorous, relevant, flexible and varied and complex. In a differentiated classroom, one size will not fit all; students will pursue respectful and appropriate learning tasks based upon readiness, interests and/or learning style.

(For more information on differentiation, see the Tomlinson article and Lending Library list.)

• Gifted Learners and the Middle School: Problem or Promise?
• Differentiation of Instruction
• Differentiated Lesson Plan
• Writing a Differentiated Objective—Ideas!
• Unit Plan Sheet for one unit to the 5th
• terminology for the differentiated classroom
• Template for one lesson to the fifth unit design
• Measuring Rigor in the Curriculum
• Reflecting on Differentiation
• Pathways to learning
• Pathway to Learning sample chart
• Pathway to Learning blank chart
• Differentiation definition chart