Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated instruction is an approach whereby teachers adjust their curriculum and instruction to maximize the learning of all students: average learners, English language learners, struggling students, students with learning disabilities, and gifted and talented students.  In reality, all "good" teachers should be differentiated their instruction to meet the needs of each individual student.

When differentiating instruction, teachers must look at three factors: readiness, interest, and learning profile.  Readiness refers to a student's knowledge and skill level regarding given content.  Interest refers to topics, skills, or activities that peak a student's curiosity or inspire him.  Learning profile refers to a student's preferred method of learning new information or skills (e.g., visually, hands-on, through deductive means) and to environmental factors that influence a student's learning (e.g., small group, bright lights, no distractions).

There are five things that teachers must keep in mind when differentiating instruction:
      1. Create a classroom environment that encourages learning.
      2. Teach in a way that makes the material relevant to the students.
      3. Assess students as you teach, rather than just at the end of a unit.
      4. As you assess students, you will realize that not all students are in the same place.  At this point,
      it is crucial that you tailor your lessons to meet the individual needs of each student.
      5. Allow for multiple different things to be going on in your classroom simultaneously.
      Differentiated instruction will not work if every student is expected to be working on the exact same
      thing at the exact same time.

Differentiated instruction is important because no two students learn the same way; each student has a specific learning style and teachers must teach according to that style.