Most educators aspire to connect with each student effectively, yet the constraints of limited preparation time and demanding schedules can make this aspiration seem unattainable. Fortunately, with the appropriate methodologies and resources, it’s feasible to design educational encounters that not only captivate your entire class but also cater to the distinct requirements of each learner.
This article introduces 20 actionable, classroom-proven strategies that you can implement immediately to streamline and enhance differentiation. Whether you’re teaching mathematics, language arts, or any other subject, you’ll discover practical techniques applicable to both whole-class and small-group settings.
Each strategy is accompanied by explicit examples and real-world classroom implementations, along with a downloadable quick-reference guide for your convenience. Prepare to revolutionize your teaching approach with methods that truly yield results!
Understanding Differentiated Learning Styles
Differentiated Learning Styles, at its core, is an educational framework that tailors instruction to accommodate students’ diverse learning preferences, abilities, and levels of preparedness. Rather than adopting a uniform instructional method, this approach modifies teaching and learning practices to align with the varied needs present in today’s classrooms. Differentiated instruction transforms the way educators present content, engage students, and evaluate comprehension.
Carol Ann Tomlinson, a renowned educator, articulates this concept eloquently in her seminal work, “How To Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms“:
“Students of the same age group are not homogenous in their learning styles, just as they differ in size, hobbies, personalities, preferences, and aversions. While students share commonalities as human beings and children, their individual differences are equally significant. In classrooms with minimal differentiation, student similarities often take precedence. Conversely, a differentiated classroom acknowledges and builds upon commonalities, while also valuing and incorporating student differences into the teaching and learning process.”
Differentiation can be achieved by adjusting various aspects of the learning experience:
- Content: The information, concepts, and skills taught, and the resources and methods employed for instruction.
- Process: The activities and exercises students engage in to internalize and comprehend the content.
- Product: The tangible outcomes that students create to demonstrate their understanding, such as assignments, projects, and assessments.
To assist in creating lessons that are engaging and relevant for a diverse classroom, we present 20 differentiated instruction strategies, complete with practical examples. These strategies are also available in a printable, condensed format for easy access. The initial 16 strategies are broadly applicable, while the final four are specifically tailored for math instruction.
Experiment with the strategies that best suit your teaching style and your students’ learning requirements, adapting them as necessary to maximize their effectiveness.
20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies to Implement Today
Let’s delve into each strategy, providing examples and actionable tips for classroom integration, adaptable to various differentiated learning styles:
1. Establish Dynamic Learning Stations
Introduce variety in content delivery by setting up learning stations – designated areas within your classroom where groups of students rotate through different activities. This can be effectively managed with a flexible seating arrangement.
Each station should employ a distinct method to teach a specific skill or concept related to the lesson’s objectives, catering to diverse differentiated learning styles.
For instance, to enhance math lessons, numerous educators utilize platforms like Prodigy to facilitate differentiation. You can assign particular in-game skills to individual students or groups directly from your teacher dashboard, aligning with varied differentiated learning styles.
Stations can be designed around activities such as:
- Responding to educational videos to cater to visual and auditory learners.
- Creating artistic representations to engage kinesthetic and creative differentiated learning styles.
- Reading relevant articles to accommodate linguistic and independent differentiated learning styles.
- Solving puzzles to stimulate logical and problem-solving differentiated learning styles.
- Participating in teacher-led discussions for social and auditory differentiated learning styles.
To consolidate learning after station rotations, conduct a class-wide discussion or assign reflective questions.
2. Utilize Versatile Task Cards
Similar to learning stations, task cards offer a diverse range of content for students. Task cards can also serve as a small-group activity, providing a change of pace from typical solo or large-group learning formats, accommodating different differentiated learning styles.
Begin by creating or selecting tasks and questions typically found in worksheets or textbooks.
Next, print and laminate individual cards, each containing a single task or question. Alternatively, resources like Teachers Pay Teachers offer a wide array of pre-made task cards. (Explore Prodigy Education’s Teachers Pay Teachers page for complimentary resources!).
Set up stations around the classroom and pair students to rotate through them.
Individualize instruction by observing student pairs and addressing knowledge gaps as needed. Introduce varying levels of task cards to further differentiate based on student needs and differentiated learning styles.
3. Conduct Student Learning Style Interviews
Directly inquire about students’ learning and study preferences to identify content formats that best suit their needs. This personal approach directly addresses differentiated learning styles.
During learning stations or large-group activities, briefly meet with each student individually. Ask about:
- Their preferred lesson formats to understand their differentiated learning styles.
- Their favorite in-class activities to identify engaging methodologies for their differentiated learning styles.
- Projects they are most proud of to understand areas of strength and interest related to their differentiated learning styles.
- Exercises that aid their retention of key lesson points, revealing effective strategies for their differentiated learning styles.
Document these insights to identify common patterns and unique preferences, helping tailor instruction methods to individual differentiated learning styles. If individual interviews are impractical, administer a written survey at the start of the academic year to gather this information efficiently from all students.
4. Engage Multiple Senses in Lessons
A lesson becomes more inclusive and impactful when it appeals to visual, tactile, auditory, and kinesthetic senses, rather than just one. This multi-sensory approach caters to varied differentiated learning styles.
When appropriate, address a spectrum of differentiated learning styles by:
- Playing videos and audio clips to engage auditory and visual differentiated learning styles.
- Using infographics and visual aids to cater to visual differentiated learning styles.
- Providing audiobooks and podcasts for auditory differentiated learning styles.
- Incorporating drama and role-playing to engage kinesthetic and participatory differentiated learning styles.
- Integrating charts and illustrations within textual materials to support visual and analytical differentiated learning styles.
- Giving both spoken and written instructions for tasks to accommodate auditory and linguistic differentiated learning styles.
- Utilizing tangible objects, like currency in math lessons, to engage tactile and kinesthetic differentiated learning styles.
- Allocating time for creative reflection and artistic interpretation of lessons, appealing to visual, kinesthetic, and creative differentiated learning styles.
These tactics not only enhance comprehension for a wider range of students with different differentiated learning styles but also enrich overall class engagement.
Prodigy Math, for example, offers an interactive platform to gamify math learning in ways traditional worksheets cannot, appealing to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic differentiated learning styles. 👇
5. Share Personal Learning Strengths and Challenges
To introduce students to the concept of differentiated learning styles, it can be beneficial to explain that everyone possesses diverse skill sets and information processing methods. Sharing your own learning journey, including both strengths and weaknesses, is an effective way to illustrate this.
Discuss – on a personal level – your study habits and lesson review techniques. Share strategies that have been effective and ineffective for you, encouraging students to experiment with them to discover their own differentiated learning styles.
This approach not only helps students understand the natural diversity in learning styles but also provides them with insights into improving their own information processing strategies, aligning with their differentiated learning styles.
6. Implement the Think-Pair-Share Strategy
The think-pair-share strategy exposes students to three distinct lesson-processing experiences within a single activity, catering to various differentiated learning styles. It also allows for easy monitoring and support during each phase:
- Begin by prompting students to individually contemplate a given topic or question, engaging their independent differentiated learning styles.
- Next, pair students to discuss their thoughts and findings, facilitating social and verbal differentiated learning styles.
- Finally, have each pair share their collective ideas with the class, opening the floor for broader discussion, promoting auditory and participatory differentiated learning styles.
This differentiated instruction strategy accommodates a range of differentiated learning styles and personality types by allowing students to process content individually, in small groups, and in a large group setting.
7. Incorporate Journaling Time
Journals can serve as valuable tools for students to reflect on lessons and classroom activities, aiding in the processing of new information and catering to reflective differentiated learning styles.
When feasible, dedicate time at the end of class for students to make journal entries by:
- Summarizing key concepts learned, reinforcing their understanding and catering to reflective differentiated learning styles.
- Attempting to answer or clarify lingering questions, promoting critical thinking and addressing individual differentiated learning styles.
- Explaining the real-world applications of lessons, enhancing relevance and engagement for pragmatic differentiated learning styles.
- Illustrating new concepts, which can be particularly effective for data-driven subjects like mathematics, appealing to visual and kinesthetic differentiated learning styles.
Consistent journaling helps students identify which methods best facilitate their content processing, aligning with their individual differentiated learning styles.
For subjects like math, where journaling’s value might seem less apparent, dedicated math journaling can be introduced. By linking journaling to specific math objectives, students can make cross-curricular connections and explore math through a reflective lens, catering to diverse differentiated learning styles even within STEM subjects.
For further resources, explore K-5 Math Teaching Resources for a comprehensive overview and Angela Watson’s resources at The Cornerstone for Teachers for practical math journal ideas.
8. Integrate Reflection and Goal-Setting Exercises
Expanding on journaling, incorporate exercises that prompt students to reflect on significant lessons and establish learning goals at predetermined intervals throughout the year. This practice supports metacognition and aligns with introspective differentiated learning styles.
During these reflection points, ask students to write about their favorite topics, the most interesting concepts they’ve learned, and areas of curiosity, catering to their individual interests and differentiated learning styles.
Encourage them to also identify skills they wish to improve and topics they want to explore further, fostering self-awareness and goal orientation, key aspects of differentiated learning styles.
Based on these reflections, tailor future lessons to help students achieve their stated goals. For example, if a significant portion of students express interest in a particular aspect of the science curriculum, design differentiated activities centered around that theme, catering to their collective and individual differentiated learning styles.
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9. Organize Literature Circles
Literature circles, where students discuss readings in small groups, encourage peer-to-peer learning and enhance comprehension, particularly beneficial for auditory and participatory differentiated learning styles.
This format allows you to observe each circle’s discussion, offer guidance, and address any misunderstandings, providing targeted support based on observed differentiated learning styles.
Additionally, some students may develop leadership skills by facilitating discussions within their circles, promoting social and leadership-oriented differentiated learning styles.
Literature circles make written content more accessible to a broader range of students with diverse differentiated learning styles, especially those who may find solitary reading and comprehension challenging.
10. Offer Varied Options During Free Study Time
Free study time, typically beneficial for independent learners, can be adapted to accommodate diverse differentiated learning styles by incorporating varied activities. Segment the class into distinct zones for solo and collaborative activities to cater to different preferences and differentiated learning styles.
Consider integrating the following exercises during free study time to address visual, auditory, and kinesthetic differentiated learning styles:
- Provide audiobooks related to lesson content for auditory differentiated learning styles.
- Set up a station with challenging group games that reinforce curriculum skills, engaging kinesthetic and social differentiated learning styles.
- Maintain a designated quiet zone for focused note-taking and individual work, catering to independent and reflective differentiated learning styles.
- Allow students to collaborate in groups for note-taking and assignments outside the quiet zone, accommodating social and participatory differentiated learning styles.
By offering these varied options, free study time becomes more inclusive, benefiting a wider range of learners beyond those who excel in quiet, individual work, and catering to diverse differentiated learning styles.
11. Group Students Based on Similar Learning Styles
Flexible grouping based on students’ readiness levels and differentiated learning styles is crucial for effective classroom organization. While heterogeneous grouping is common, grouping students with similar differentiated learning styles can foster collaboration through shared work and thinking preferences.
This strategy differs from ability-based grouping and aligns with the “Teach Up” principle, discussed later.
Grouping by differentiated learning styles allows like-minded students to support each other’s learning while providing you targeted time with each group. Assessing student readiness before grouping ensures more effective learning partnerships, allowing you to tailor instruction to each group’s common needs and differentiated learning styles.
Maintain group flexibility, allowing students to move between groups as their skills and understanding evolve. This dynamic approach ensures continuous challenge and support for all students, respecting their changing differentiated learning styles.
12. Provide Diverse Reading Comprehension Activities
Shift from solely written assessments of reading comprehension to activities and questions that evaluate different aptitudes and differentiated learning styles. Graphic organizers can aid visual learners in structuring thoughts and understanding relationships between ideas.
While written responses suit some, others excel in artistic or kinesthetic tasks. Choice boards empower students to select activities that match their differentiated learning styles while meeting learning objectives.
For example, offer choices before, during, and after reading:
- Graphic organizers for mapping story elements or character relationships, catering to visual and analytical differentiated learning styles.
- Literature circles for participatory and auditory differentiated learning styles.
- Presentations for verbal and social differentiated learning styles.
- Traditional reports for linguistic and independent differentiated learning styles.
- Visual art projects to illustrate key events, appealing to visual and creative differentiated learning styles.
- Monologues from a character’s perspective, engaging kinesthetic and expressive differentiated learning styles.
Structured choices through choice boards allow students to demonstrate comprehension effectively, providing deeper insights into their abilities and differentiated learning styles.
13. Assign Open-Ended Projects
Similar to reading comprehension assessments, offer a range of project options that allow students to demonstrate knowledge in ways that align with their differentiated learning styles.
Include clear rubrics for each project type, defining expectations. Some educators involve students in co-creating rubrics to foster autonomy and ownership in their learning and assessment, catering to self-directed differentiated learning styles. This approach ensures projects are both challenging and aligned with specific criteria.
By offering engaging and challenging options, open-ended projects encourage students to:
- Work at their own pace, respecting individual learning speeds and differentiated learning styles.
- Actively engage with content, promoting deeper understanding and catering to engaged differentiated learning styles.
- Demonstrate knowledge effectively through their preferred medium, maximizing expression of their differentiated learning styles.
This differentiated instruction strategy showcases diverse work and differentiated learning styles, benefiting both students and teachers.
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14. Encourage Student-Proposed Project Ideas
Beyond offering pre-set project options, encourage students to develop and propose their own project ideas. This fosters creativity and aligns with self-directed differentiated learning styles.
Students must articulate how their proposed project will meet academic standards and be open to feedback and revisions. If an initial pitch is insufficient, guide the student to refine it until it meets the criteria. If revisions are not made by a set deadline, offer a pre-set project alternative.
You may be surprised by the innovative ideas students generate.
Since differentiated instruction centers on the student, their insights into their own differentiated learning styles and abilities are invaluable.
15. Regularly Evaluate Your Differentiated Instruction Strategy
Even with a well-established approach, Carol Ann Tomlinson, a leading expert in differentiated instruction, advocates for ongoing analysis of your strategies:
“Frequently reflect on the alignment between your classroom practices and your desired teaching and learning philosophy. Identify matches and mismatches, and use both to inform your instructional decisions and refine your approach to differentiated learning styles.”
Drawing from her book, “How To Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms,” analyze your strategy by reflecting on:
- Content: Are you using diverse materials and varied teaching methods to accommodate different differentiated learning styles?
- Processes: Are you providing a mix of solo, small-group, and large-group activities that effectively engage diverse learners and their differentiated learning styles?
- Products: Are you enabling and supporting students in demonstrating their understanding through a range of assessment methods, projects, and assignments that cater to different differentiated learning styles?
This reflective process will help you continuously refine your approach to better accommodate all students and their differentiated learning styles.
16. “Teach Up” for Enhanced Learning
Tomlinson cautions against teaching at a level that is too easily accessible for all students, as this can undermine differentiated instruction efforts. Instead, she recommends “teaching up.” This approach avoids getting stuck on basic concepts and ensures students reach advanced levels:
“It is more effective to begin with high-level curriculum and expectations and then differentiate by providing scaffolding to support students in reaching those higher standards. The common tendency is to start with perceived grade-level material and then simplify it for some while enriching it for others. However, enrichment often remains limited, and simplification can lower expectations for certain students and not fully address their differentiated learning styles.”
This “Teach Up” principle should guide your differentiated teaching strategy, aiming to elevate each student to “high-end curriculum and expectations,” regardless of their starting point or differentiated learning styles. This approach is increasingly popular as educators focus on accelerated learning by “teaching up,” rather than solely addressing learning gaps, and better caters to diverse differentiated learning styles.
Differentiated Math Instruction Strategies for Diverse Learners
The following four strategies are specifically designed to make math instruction more engaging and accessible for students with varying skill levels and differentiated learning styles:
17. Utilize Adaptive Math EdTech
Certain educational technology tools, particularly educational math games, can deliver differentiated content and offer varied processing methods, catering to diverse differentiated learning styles in math.
For example, Prodigy adjusts question difficulty based on student performance and presents math problems using words, charts, pictures, and numbers, accommodating visual, linguistic, and numerical differentiated learning styles.
Prodigy is a free, standards-aligned resource for grades one through eight, beneficial for both teachers and students. Educators can customize question focus to complement lessons and access reports to monitor individual student progress and tailor instruction based on differentiated learning styles.
18. Connect Math to Personal Interests and Real-World Contexts
Linking math concepts to students’ personal interests and everyday examples can significantly enhance understanding, especially for students with pragmatic and applied differentiated learning styles.
A 2015 study involving 41 seventh-grade students demonstrated that contextual learning strategies, when applied to teaching integers, improved test scores by over 44%.
While replicating such significant gains may be ambitious, surveying students about their interests and how they use math outside of school is a practical starting point. This information can help contextualize math lessons, making them more relevant and engaging, particularly for students with applied differentiated learning styles.
Numerous math-related games and activities can provide inspiration for implementing this strategy and connecting math to diverse differentiated learning styles.
19. Implement a Math Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Use a math-focused version of tic-tac-toe to help students practice diverse math skills in an engaging format, catering to game-based and competitive differentiated learning styles.
Prepare tic-tac-toe grids, filling each square with a question that assesses different math abilities. Examples include:
- “Complete question X on page Y of your textbook,” for textbook-based differentiated learning styles.
- “Draw a visual representation of adding fraction X and fraction Y,” for visual differentiated learning styles.
- “Describe a real-world scenario where cross-multiplication is used, provide an example and solution,” for applied and linguistic differentiated learning styles.
Distribute sheets for individual practice or pair students for a competitive game. The first to get tic-tac-toe by correctly completing questions wins, challenging diverse learners through solo or group practice, and catering to both independent and social differentiated learning styles.
20. Create Math Learning Stations Without Mandatory Rotation
Set up differentiated math learning stations in your classroom, but allow students to choose when and if they rotate, providing autonomy and catering to self-directed differentiated learning styles.
Design stations around solving similar math problems using different modalities:
- Data Station: Provide spreadsheets for data manipulation and problem-solving through experimentation, appealing to analytical and logical differentiated learning styles.
- Peer Station: Group students to collaboratively tackle problems, supporting peer learning and social differentiated learning styles.
- Hands-on Station: Offer manipulatives for students to use physical objects to solve math questions, engaging kinesthetic differentiated learning styles.
Students switch stations based on their perceived needs, promoting self-awareness of their differentiated learning styles. Consult with students about their station choices to gain further insight into their learning preferences. Circulate between stations to provide targeted support, ensuring this activity exposes students to exercises that resonate with their diverse abilities and differentiated learning styles.
Downloadable Differentiated Instruction Strategies List
Download and print this simplified list of 20 differentiated instruction strategies for a handy desk reference.
Differentiated Instruction Strategies Infographic
Here’s an infographic summarizing 16 key ideas from this article on differentiated learning styles:
In Conclusion
Implementing effective differentiated instruction, focusing on differentiated learning styles, doesn’t need to be daunting. The 20 strategies discussed offer practical methods to address diverse learning needs and create a more engaging and inclusive classroom. From flexible learning stations to targeted math games, each approach can be adapted to your teaching style and student requirements, focusing on differentiated learning styles.
Differentiation is an ongoing journey. Begin with a few strategies that resonate with your teaching approach, then expand your toolkit as you and your students become more comfortable. Consider combining these methods with active learning, experiential activities, and project-based instruction to create an even more dynamic learning environment that caters to diverse differentiated learning styles.
Ready to enhance your differentiated instruction practices and better address differentiated learning styles? Create your free Prodigy teacher account today and discover how game-based learning can transform your classroom – helping you reach every student, at every level, by understanding and addressing their unique differentiated learning styles.
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