Differentiated instruction is an approach to teaching that involves adjusting the curriculum, teaching strategies, and classroom environment to meet the individual needs of students. It is based on the principle that students learn at different paces and in different ways. Effective differentiated instruction relies on assessment to tailor instruction to individual student needs and involves using flexible grouping, tiered lessons, learning centers, and consideration of student strengths, interests and learning modalities to support academic success for all students.

1. Differentiated Instruction:
An Overview

2. What is differentiated instruction?
There are varying definitions, but the
central point is that educators must meet
the needs of all students for those students
to be academically successful. To do so
educators need to adjust:
 curriculum
 teaching strategies
 classroom environment

3. How do you adjust the curriculum?
 Adjust the Content - What is being taught
 Adjust the Process – Skills and activities
 Adjust the Product – the end results that show
students have mastered the content

4. Basic Principles of
Differentiated Instruction
 Assessment is the foundation
 Instruction is adjusted based on assessments
 Teachers use a variety of teaching strategies
 Flexible grouping (students work in variety of group settings)
 Tiered Instruction
 Independent study centers
 Learning centers
 Interest centers
 Students strengths are emphasized
 Teachers take into consideration students’ learning
modalities
 Teachers take into consideration students’ interests
 Clearly established criteria help support students’ success

5. Basic Principles of
Differentiated Instruction
 Students strengths are emphasized
 Teachers take into consideration students’ learning
modalities
 Teachers take into consideration students’ interests
 Clearly established criteria help support students’
success

6. Summary
Differentiated Instruction…
 Adjust curriculum, teaching strategies, and
classroom environment to meet the needs of all
students.
 Assessment is the foundation of differentiated
instruction.
 All students do not learn at the same pace or in the
same way, and have different interests and
motivations.
 Clearly defined criteria mean students know what is
expected of them.