Differentiated instruction is an approach to teaching that acknowledges students learn in different ways and at different paces. It involves providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression based on students' individual readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles so that all students can achieve the same learning goals. Differentiated instruction aims to create a classroom environment that meets the needs of all students, including those who are advanced, struggling, or average, just as skiers of varying abilities take different paths down the mountain to successfully reach the bottom.

1. Differentiated Instruction
Why Use It and What Is It?

2. Why Differentiate?
If you went skiing with a group of
people with varying ability levels would
you expect them all to go down the
same slope?

3. The goal of skiing is to have fun and get
down the mountain safely.

4. For that to happen each individual
needs to choose a path that meets their
ability level.

5. Would you make an expert skier go
down the bunny slope?

6. Or take a novice down a black diamond
trail?

7. A ski slope, like a classroom, comes
with individuals at a variety of ability
levels.

8. There are average learners.

9. Advanced learners.

10. And struggling learners.

11. What is Important is…
that all of the skiers achieve
their goal of completing their
path successfully.
Just like in a differentiated
classroom, learners may take
different routes, but all
successfully achieve their goal
of accessing the curriculum.

12. What Is Differentiated Instruction?
 Instruction that provides varied
approaches to content, process, and
product.
A learning environment that takes
students’ interests, abilities,
readiness, and learning styles into
consideration.

13. Despite individual differences and varied
ability levels, all students are expected
to master the same concepts, principles,
and skills. A way to achieve this is
through differentiated instruction.