Differentiating Teaching and Learning: What SHOULD it Look Like?

Differentiate according to Dictionary.com means “to form or mark differently from other such things” or “to perceive the difference in or between”.

Therefore, Differentiated Teaching and Learning must mean to “form” instruction differently based upon the “difference[s]” perceived in learners. At least that is what I assume it means. Sounds great! Sounds like good teaching practice to me. Sounds like something we should all be doing for all students. And if you peruse educational websites or publications you might get the idea that this differentiation is a widespread practice. But is it?

I know lots of teachers in lots of different schools in lots of different districts. From all of them I hear the same story….pacing guides, reading and math programs that must be taught “to fidelity”, lesson plans and assignments that are required to be uniform throughout a grade level, mandated materials for use with strugglers. Hmmm…this does not sound like differentiation to me. Sometimes it seems we have locked our students into a scripted curricular prison!

What if we really differentiated our instruction? What would that look like? My thoughts:

Student Choice about reading material

Student Choice about writing topics

Mini lessons based on teacher observation of need

Cross curricular projects based on student interest

What could be more differentiated than learning activities based on student choice and interest?

How can I accomplish this and comply with my districts mandates? Don’t know. I’m still working on that.