If you teach a large group of students, you probably know that every child is different when learning new concepts. For example, some children may respond better to one teaching method, while other children may perform better with another teaching style. To ensure all children can achieve their academic goals, the teacher will need to use differentiated instruction.
What Is Differentiation?
Differentiated instruction is the process of continually adjusting teaching methods, pace, and style to accommodate a diverse group of learners. Teachers will group students based on their learning abilities and skill sets and then assign tasks accordingly. The whole class will be taught the same topic, but they may get slightly different tasks based on their understanding level.
For example, the task might be to read a passage and answer some questions based on it. However, if one group of students struggles with these sorts of comprehension exercises, then the teacher can modify it for the struggling students.
The teacher will not give this group the whole passage to read at once, but they might give them a smaller, more manageable part and ask them to answer one or two questions before assigning the rest of the passage.
Why Is Differentiation Necessary?
Differentiation is crucial if a teacher wants to make sure that all children can progress despite their different learning abilities and preferences. Differentiated instruction ensures that children are not assigned tasks that are too easy or too difficult for them.
With differentiated instruction, children get tasks that challenge them to improve and learn a new concept without making them feel frustrated by giving them tasks that they cannot handle.
Implementation
There are multiple strategies that teachers can use to implement differentiated instruction, such as using online tools like Google Classroom. These methods can help teachers design exams that test on the same subject, but the format of the questions is modified according to each student’s level.
Keep in mind that this does not mean designing tests with different questions for each student. Instead, the aim is to create exams according to two or three distinct patterns for different groups of students, such as advanced, middle, and lower. The advanced group will get one pattern, while the lower group will get a different pattern of questions.
Parental Involvement
Parents can also play a key role in getting differentiated instruction for their children. They can help by asking their children to let a teacher know when they are having trouble with an assignment.
Concluding Thoughts
Differentiated instruction is necessary because it helps the whole class progress and not just the naturally gifted kids. It allows for children to grow and learn based on their capacities. In this way, children feel less frustrated and more open to learning new things, as everything is aligned with their pace.
