Teachers accommodating student differences through lesson design: Process, Content, and Assessment

1. Roland Darby
Educator and Advocate for Students with Exceptionalities
Differentiated Instruction: Classroom & Role-
Based Model

2. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
Anderson, K. M. (2007). Differentiating instruction to include all
students. Preventing School Failure, 51(3), 49-54.
A teaching philosophy based on the premise that
students learn best when teachers accommodate
the differences in students in the following ways:
 Readiness
 Interests
 Learning profile

3. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
Content
Plan content for what and
how students will gain
access to desired
knowledge, understanding,
and skills…
ASSESSMENTS
Plan for assessment in
various ways for
students to
demonstrate what they
know through products
that represent their
unique learning
preferences, interests,
and strengths…
PROCESS
Plan the process for
how students will
come to understand
and assimilate facts,
concepts, or skills…

4. Adapt lesson plan for how students’ will gain
access to the desired knowledge, understanding,
and skills.
o Use varying levels of texts, novels, or short stories
o Use flexible grouping
o Provide choices:
 Books or tapes
 Internet
 Pairs, small groups, independent seat work
Differentiate the Content:
Anderson, K. M. (2007). Differentiating instruction to include all
students. Preventing School Failure, 51(3), 49-54.

5. In the lesson, how will the learners come to
understand and assimilate facts, concepts, or
skills?
o Guided or Independent Practice
o Tiered Activities
 Independent work activities
 Learning Centers
 Individualized homework enrichment projects
Differentiate the Process:
Anderson, K. M. (2007). Differentiating instruction to include all
students. Preventing School Failure, 51(3), 49-54.

6. Challenge students at all levels to (1) make decisions, (2) be
responsible for their own learning, and (3) demonstrate what they know.
o Use choice boards:
 Verbalize
 Write
 Create
 Perform
 Solve
o Use open-ended lists of product options:
 Debate, games, oral report
 Essay, report, research paper, workbook
 Collage, graph, model/concept map
 Drama, model/demonstrate, role play
 Puzzles, problems, scavenger hunt
Differentiate Assessments:
Anderson, K. M. (2007). Differentiating instruction to include all
students. Preventing School Failure, 51(3), 49-54.