Differentiation

Overview

Differentiation means how the teacher finds alternate ways of teaching to ensure continual growth of each student.

 

Individualized Interactions

Teachers build trust through small, positive exchanges with individuals. Trust develops as students become aware that what goes on in the classroom supports their success individually and as a group.

 

Adaptation

Armed with assessment information and other knowledge about a student, the teacher should adapt teaching plans to attend to learner readiness, interest, and preferred modes of learning.

 

Planning for Differences

Teachers in differentiated classrooms use small-group instruction, text at varied reading levels, personalized rubrics, miniworkshops, learning contracts, product and task options with common learning goals, independent studies, varied homework assignments, and other strategies—not for the sake of using them, but to make learning work for each student.