Sunday, October 16, 2011

What is Differentiated Instruction?

When the topic of differentiated instruction comes up, people sometimes become confused. I know differentiated instruction (DI) is making sure that all students succeed by creating lessons to fit their individual needs and learning styles. I also know that DI is NOT creating individual lessons for each student. So what exactly is differentiated instruction?

"At its most basic level, differentiating instruction means 'shaking up' what goes on in the classroom so that students have multiple options for taking in information, making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn" (Tomlinson, 2001).

Differentiated Instruction suits the needs of advanced, average, and struggling learners by tailoring  lessons to meet students' levels.


"The goal of the teacher is coming to understand more and more about that learning position so that learning matches learner need" (Tomlinson, 2001).




Reference:

Tomlinson, C.A. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms (2 edition). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

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