Differentiated Instruction
Education news, analysis, and opinion about techniques and adaptations to instruct students with diverse learning needs in the same classroom
Differentiated Instruction: A Primer
Definitions vary for differentiated instruction, a popular approach for teaching children with a range of academic strengths and interests.
Teaching
Series
Differentiated Instruction
In this series of videos, two veteran teachers explain what it means to differentiate instruction for students of all levels.
Teaching
Video
Differentiating Instruction: How to Plan Your Lessons
Some students finish tasks quickly, others slowly. Some understand the concept on the first try, and others need more practice. How can a teacher plan ahead for all these scenarios? In this video, veteran teachers Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Synieski discuss the various strategies they keep in their back pockets for accommodating all types of learners during a single lesson.
English Learners
Video
Differentiating Instruction: A Guide for Teaching English-Language Learners
Veteran teachers Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Synieski offer tips on differentiating instruction for English-language learners. By using techniques such as pairing up students and enhancing background knowledge, teachers can make a lesson accessible to every student in the class, regardless of language proficiency. “Not everybody will get the same exact text or use the same strategy,” Hull Sypnieski explains, “but it’s fair because you’re meeting every student where they are.”
Teaching
Opinion
Want to Personalize Learning? Computers Aren't the Answer
Keeping five classes of 30 students engaged each day isn’t an easy task. Nina Parrish shares five steps to help.
Teaching
Opinion
Response: Differentiate for ELLs by 'Establishing a Welcoming and Safe Classroom'
Sandra C. Figueroa, Becky Corr, Sydney Snyder, Adria Klein, Michael D. Toth, and Barbara Gottschalk share their suggestions on differentiating instruction for ELLs.
English Learners
Opinion
Ways to Differentiate Instruction for ELLs
Educators discuss ways to differentiate instruction for English Language Learners.
Education
Opinion
How Do You Differentiate Instruction for ELLs?
The new "question-of-the-week" is: How can you best differentiate instruction for an English Language Learner in a "mainstream" class?
Teaching
Opinion
Video: "Differentiating Instruction: It's Not as Hard as You Think"
Check out our new animated video: "Differentiating Instruction: It's Not as Hard as You Think"
Teaching
Differentiating Instruction: It's Not as Hard as You Think (Video)
In this video, teacher and author Larry Ferlazzo explains that differentiation is not about long nights of planning and grading, but about being flexible and making decisions in the moment based on what students need.
Teaching
Video
Differentiating Instruction: It’s Not as Hard as You Think
Larry Ferlazzo offers low-lift strategies for making activities accessible for students with all types of gifts and challenges.
Education
Opinion
Q&A Collections: Differentiating Instruction
All posts from the past seven years on Differentiating Instruction - in one place
Education
Opinion
Self-Pacing: The Key to Differentiating Effectively for All Learners
By restructuring our classrooms to transfer ownership from the teacher to the learner, we discovered that the most effective method to differentiate was clear: self-pacing.
Teaching
Opinion
Response: 'Embracing Technology' as a Tool for Differentiation
Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, Becky Shiring, Katie Robinson, Dr. Sonny Magana and Dr. Monica Burns contribute their suggestions on using tech to differentiate instruction.
Teaching
Opinion
Response: Ways to Use Tech to Differentiate Instruction
Anne Jenks, Ge-Anne Bolhuis, Dr. Nancy Sulla, Sarah Shartzer, Daniel L. Schwartz, Jessia M. Tsang, and Kristen P. Blair share their suggestions on using technology to differentiate instruction.