Module 13: Differentiating Your Instruction

Students in classrooms today represent a diverse group of individuals. They represent differing interests, learning abilities, knowledge of general content and concepts, and cultural backgrounds and experiences. Given these differences, K–12 teachers need to be responsive for meeting the needs of all their students through tasks and activities that both challenge and provide accessibility for those students that need it (Anderson, 2007). Tomlinson (2014) notes the importance of teacher understanding that all students do not learn the same way but all deserve engaging and purposeful activities that are developed with the positive expectation for student success. A teacher who applies the elements of differentiated instruction is one who can embrace student differences and utilize classroom frameworks that include flexible groupings, respectful activities for all, ongoing assessment, and collaborative processes between teacher and student (Tomlinson, 2014; Logan, 2011).