Differentiated Instruction Demystified: Practical Tools for Your Classroom

As educators, we know that no two students walk into our classrooms with the same background, abilities, or learning styles. That’s why differentiation is such a critical part of teaching—it allows us to meet the diverse needs of every student, whether they require additional support, challenge, or a different approach to learning.

While differentiation is often associated with special education, it’s important to remember that differentiation is for all students. To start, let’s clarify two terms that are frequently misunderstood: accommodations and modifications.

• Accommodations involve changes in how a student accesses information or demonstrates learning. For example, providing an audiobook instead of requiring a student to read the text is an accommodation. The learning goal remains the same; only the method of access changes.
• Modifications, on the other hand, alter the learning expectations themselves. For instance, if you provide a less rigorous set of questions for a student or simplify a multiple-choice test by reducing the number of answer options, you are modifying the content and expectations.

Understanding this distinction helps us see that differentiation usually involves accommodations—adjusting how students access content or demonstrate their knowledge to support their individual learning needs. With that in mind, I’d like to share four effective differentiation strategies that have worked well in my classroom:

1. Self-Paced Learning

One of the most powerful tools in my differentiation toolbox is self-paced learning. By shifting explicit instruction to instructional videos, I allow students to move through the material at their own pace. Some students watch the video, take notes, and quickly move on to practice work and assessments, while others take more time, rewatching sections to ensure they fully grasp the content. This approach prevents students from being rushed or held back by a one-size-fits-all pace and provides them with the flexibility to learn in the way that works best for them.

2. Tiered Activities: Must-Do, Should-Do, Aspire-to-Do

Another effective differentiation strategy is structuring lessons around tasks that students must do, should do, and aspire to do. All students are required to complete the essential, must-do tasks. The should-do tasks are additional practice for students who need it or for those moving quickly. The aspire-to-do tasks offer enrichment opportunities for students who are ready for more challenging work. This tiered approach ensures that all students are engaged and appropriately challenged, regardless of where they are in their learning journey.

3. Small Group and 1:1 Instruction

Self-paced learning also frees me up to provide targeted support to individual students or small groups. When a student struggles with a concept, I can pull them aside and work with them directly, ensuring they get the help they need without holding back the rest of the class. This personalized attention is another form of differentiation that ensures no student falls through the cracks.

4. Student Choice

Finally, incorporating student choice into assessments allows students to demonstrate their learning in ways that align with their strengths and interests. A choice board, for example, might give students the option to express their understanding through writing, art, music, or even a board game. This flexibility not only makes learning more engaging but also helps students showcase their knowledge in a way that feels authentic to them.

The Challenge of Differentiation

Differentiating instruction isn’t easy—especially when you’re managing a large class. I’ve had classes of up to 38 students, and meeting the needs of every individual can feel overwhelming. But strategies like self-paced learning, tiered activities, and student choice help make differentiation more manageable and effective. While other methods, like providing texts at different Lexile levels, can also be useful, they may not always be feasible or necessary when you implement broader differentiation strategies like the ones I’ve shared here.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking to dive deeper into differentiation or want to learn how to implement a self-paced classroom in your own teaching, let’s connect! At TeacherTutor.co, I offer one-on-one coaching to help educators like you refine your teaching strategies and better meet the needs of your students. Your first coaching session is free, so let’s chat about how we can work together to take your differentiation practices to the next level.