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Writer's pictureOPAL Teacher Training

What Is Differentiated Instruction and How You Can Make it Work

Differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that involves tailoring instruction to meet the individual needs of students. This approach recognizes that students have different learning styles, interests, and abilities, and that one-size-fits-all instruction is not always effective. In a differentiated instruction classroom, the teacher provides a range of learning activities and materials that allow students to learn the same content in different ways.


For example, a teacher might provide visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning activities for a lesson on multiplication, to accommodate students with different learning styles. The teacher might also provide different levels of support or challenge, depending on each student's individual needs.





Some examples of differentiated instruction might include:

  • Using a variety of instructional strategies, such as lectures, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and group work, to teach the same content.

  • Providing multiple texts or readings at different levels of difficulty on the same topic, so that students can choose the one that is most appropriate for their ability level.

  • Giving students a choice of different assignments or projects to demonstrate their understanding of a concept. For example, a student who is a visual learner might create a poster, while a student who is a more verbal learner might write an essay.

  • Providing different levels of support or challenge for the same assignment, so that each student can work at their own pace and level of ability. For example, a student who is struggling might be given additional scaffolding or support, while a student who is advanced might be given an extension or enrichment activity.

  • Using flexible grouping, so that students can work with others who have similar learning needs or abilities. For example, a teacher might group students who are struggling with a concept together for extra support, while grouping students who have already mastered the concept together for enrichment activities.

The goal of differentiated instruction is to provide a range of learning options and support to help students of all abilities learn and succeed in the classroom.


Do you use any of these suggestions? How do they work for you? Let us know in the comments! :)

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