In today’s diverse educational classrooms, teachers face so many challenges and the one-size-fits-all teaching approach is becoming a thing of the past.
However, this is the time to embrace the power of differentiation and transform your classroom into a vibrant learning environment where every student reaches their full potential.
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, every student has an individual learning style. Chances are, not all of your students grasp a subject in the same way or share the same level of ability. That is why strategies like what you are about to learn can help you tailor your lessons to individual students and create a more inclusive classroom environment.
Differentiation is all about tailoring instruction to meet the individual needs of each of your students. That means using specific content, processes, products, or learning environments to help meet the needs of the individual students in your classroom.
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Even though differentiation has been around for a while now, it doesn’t mean everyone does it. But, from lots of experience that it’s one of the most helpful “tools” used in the classroom over the years. And, differentiation doesn’t have to be overly complicated or include tons of lesson plans that take hours to write. Differentiation is all about finding out where your students are currently and meeting them there.
For example, you may have a group of students who you see need a little more help with addition facts. So, to help them, put them in a small group and give them differentiated instruction with a fun center activity, worksheet, Boom Card activity, or anything else that would help give them the extra skills practice they need.
At the same time, you may have a group of students who have mastered simple addition and are ready for two or even three-digit addition. You can do exactly the same thing and put them together in a group with worksheets, Boom Cards, etc. for more advanced skills practice to keep them engaged.
You see? It’s all about meeting your students where they are, identifying their needs, and moving on from that point. Easy-peasy!