What is differentiated
instruction?
Differentiation based on research
and writings of:
Carol Ann Tomlinson
Professor of Educational Leadership
University of Virginia
What is differentiated instruction?
“In a differentiated classroom, the
teacher proactively plans and carries
out varied approaches to content,
process, and product in anticipation of
and response to student differences in
readiness, interest, and learning needs.”
How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms (Tomlinson, ASCD, 2001)
Differentiation isn’t
a strategy. It’s a
way of thinking
about all you do
when you teach...
Carol Ann Tomlinson, The Differentiated Classroom (1999)
Differentiation
Non-Negotiables
Supportive learning environment
 Continuous assessment
 High-quality curriculum
 Respectful tasks
 Flexible grouping

The Cogs of Differentiation
Tomlinson, 2003
What Do I Differentiate?
What Do I Differentiate?
Content
 Process
 Product
 Learning Environment
 Assessments

What Do I Differentiate?
 Content
Process
 Product
 Environment
 Assessments

Curriculum
Presentation
Pacing
Materials
What Do I Differentiate?

Content
 Process
Grouping
Product
 Environment
 Assessments
Complexity

Higher-order
Choice
What Do I Differentiate?

Content
 Process
Grouping
 Product
Modes of
Expression
Environment
 Assessments

Format
Materials
What Do I Differentiate?
Content
 Process
 Product
Grouping
 Environment
Movement


Assessments
Seating
Atmosphere
What Do I Differentiate?
Content
 Process
 Product
 Environment

 Assessments
Rubrics
Grading
Modes of
Expression
Format
How Do I Know How to
Differentiate?
Knowing the
Learner
Interests
 Learning Profiles
 Readiness Levels

Differentiation
is a teacher’s response to learners’ needs
guided by general principles of differentiation, such as
respectful
tasks
flexible
grouping
ongoing
assessment
Teachers can differentiate
Content
Process
Product
according to students’
Readiness
Interests
Learning Profile
through a range of instructional and management strategies
A differentiated classroom
will have a combination of teacher
directed, teacher selected activities, and
learner centered, learner selected
activities; whole class instruction, small
group instruction, and individual
instruction.
Why Differentiate?
Why Use
Differentiated Instruction?
• Enables teachers to provide learning
opportunities for all students by offering
varied learning experiences.
• Allows teachers to put research-based best
practices into a meaningful context for
learning.
• Helps teachers to understand and use
assessment as a critical tool to drive
instruction.
Why Use
Differentiated Instruction?
• Encourages teachers to plan proactively for
student-centered learning.
• Adds new instructional strategies to teachers’
“toolboxes”- introducing or reinforcing
techniques to help teachers focus on
essentials of curriculum.
Student Voices on
Differentiated Instruction…
I like this class because there’s something
different going on all the time. My other classes,
it’s like peanut butter for lunch every single day.
This class, it’s like my teacher really knows how
to cook. It’s like she runs a really good
restaurant with a big menu.
5th grade student, in a comment from a course
evaluation