Differentiated Instruction

What is differentiated instruction? On a simple level, it means starting where kids are rather than adopting a one size fits all approach to teaching that seems to assume that all learners of a given age are essentially alike. It involves providing students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of concepts; and to developing materials so that all students within the classroom can learn, regardless of differences in ability. This type of instruction requires teachers to modify their teaching instead of expecting the children to modify themselves to fit the curriculum.

Differentiation is not teaching at a slow pace so that everyone can keep up, allowing pupils and groups work through tasks at their own pace, or expecting some students to do better than others. It does not mean that you give more of the same work to your advanced students just to keep them busy.

Teach each child from where they are. Provide different activities/levels of activities/support as needed to teach, remediate, or stretch your students. Teach the same concept...just vary the way that you present it.