#20 Differentiated Instruction: A 90-Minute Deep Dive

Yesterday I facilitated a fantastic 90-minute session all about Differentiated Instruction (DI), and I wanted to share some key takeaways for my followers.

You might be thinking, "Okay, but what exactly IS differentiated instruction?" Great question! In a nutshell, it's about tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. Whether you're adjusting the content, the process, the products, or even the learning environment itself, DI is all about making learning work for everyone.

One of the most important aspects of DI is understanding your students. This means knowing their:

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Interests: What are their passions? What are they curious about?

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Learning Profile: What are their preferred learning styles? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

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Readiness: What is their current level of understanding?

Once you have a good understanding of your students, you can start to differentiate your instruction. 

Here are a few examples of how to do this:

Content:

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Tiered Content: Provide the same concept or skill, but adjust the complexity of the curriculum for different students. For example, you might provide more scaffolding for students who are struggling, and more challenging extension activities for students who are ready for more.

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Content Scaffolding: For students who need extra support, use techniques like learning contracts, which outline the tasks to be completed and the criteria for success.

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Compacting: For advanced learners, compact the curriculum to focus on content they haven't mastered yet. Then, provide them with enriching activities to further their learning.

Process:

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Learning Centers: Set up different stations with different tasks, allowing students to move through them at their own pace.

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Graphic Organizers: Use diagrams, outlines, or charts to help students organize information, see relationships between ideas, and better understand and remember concepts.

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Jigsaw: Divide students into expert groups to learn specific content, then have them come back together to share their knowledge with each other.

Product:

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Think-Tac-Toe: Offer students a choice of products to demonstrate their learning, like writing a report, creating a video, or giving a presentation. You can create different versions of the Think-Tac-Toe board to cater to different readiness levels.

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Learning Menus: Provide students with a menu of 4-6 product options, all equally challenging and requiring a similar amount of time to complete.

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RAFT: Give students different roles, audiences, formats, and topics to address in their final product.

Learning Environment:

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Create a flexible and supportive learning environment that caters to different learning styles and needs.

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Provide quiet spaces for individual work and collaborative areas for group projects.

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Make sure your classroom reflects the diversity of your students' cultures and home settings.

Why is all of this important? Because when we differentiate our instruction, we create a learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed. They feel seen, understood, and supported, which leads to greater engagement, motivation, and ultimately, deeper learning.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Have you tried any of these DI strategies in your own classroom or workplace? Share your experiences in the comments below!