Examples of ways to differentiate instruction

TeachersFirst's Thinking Teachers who write our resource reviews often have suggestions that have worked in their classrooms. Open the reviews to the "more" view to see ideas for using specific resources as tools to differentiate for a variety of learners. Alternatively, use the keyword search tool at the left of this page to search for a curriculum topic and the term "differentiate." For example, search fractions differentiate (with "all the words" selected for the search).

 

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Protopage - Protopage

Grades
K to 12
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This online tool creates a highly visual "home page" that can incorporate multiple elements simply by dragging and dropping them in place. Not unlike Google's personalized homepage,...more
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This online tool creates a highly visual "home page" that can incorporate multiple elements simply by dragging and dropping them in place. Not unlike Google's personalized homepage, the elements look like little sticky notes or boxes, but there is far greater flexibility and a wider variety of content readily available. You can also make the page local (simply use it as the "home" on your classroom computer), shared by a select group (passworded), or completely public. You can easily make a theme or unit page for quick access of resources, complete with directions.

tag(s): resources (87)

In the Classroom

How would you use this in your teaching? Create a set of RSS feeds for current events or a specific curriculum topic such as weather and make them available for an in-class activity, complete with directions. World language, world cultures, or geography teachers can profile a location on the globe, complete with local weather and news. Make separate tabs for separate activities. Students can access them by password or publicly from outside of class, as well. For primary grades, make simple instructions right on the desktop for a computer center activity. Use color coding of the instructions to differentiate for different children (Sam, I want you to do the yellow one). If your school permits students to set up accounts on web services, have groups make Protopages on an assigned topic, collecting and organizing resources, images, and information: "A Protopage Guide to Cells" or "Shakespeare's Times." Gifted and highly-able students will go crazy!

Skills needed: Join (free). Check out the Intro, Overview, and Quickstart to see how it works. Play to your heart's content, including making tabs. Learn about RSS feeds and other Widgets-- including sticky notes. Share the URL with those you wish to have use it. Note: this works on Internet Explorer 6 and higher and on Firefox. If your users are on older web browsers, the developers recommend upgrading. This may be a problem for some. Check with your end-user computers before you spend too much time making the perfect Protopage!

If you allow students to create their own Protopage, you will need to have very specific rules about content, since there are non-educational elements available.

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Photojournalism Tiered Lesson Plan - Leigha Tracey

Grades
10 to 12
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This website presents a lesson in which students explore how photographs can be interpreted as conveying rich stories to the beholder. The lesson presumes that the students are familiar...more
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This website presents a lesson in which students explore how photographs can be interpreted as conveying rich stories to the beholder. The lesson presumes that the students are familiar with journalism and photocomposition and is set up according to Bloom's Taxonomy. While one lesson is presented, its advantage is the structure it gives to the teacher who has ideas on how to teach students to incorporate photos into their work. For ideal lesson purposes, it also presents the logical Bloom's progression which is particularly helpful to new teachers.

tag(s): journalism (71)

In the Classroom

To take full advantage of this lesson, expand it into choosing photos off the web from news stories or from Flickr. (See the TeachersFirst Edge explanation of Flickr). You might even preview some sites and have pairs of students access them and categorize them by analysis. This would enable you to tailor the lesson to any literature you were working with from: Shakespeare to Hemingway to Grisham.

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Thinking Blocks - Math Playground

Grades
3 to 8
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Help your students to uncomplicated the intricate world of algebra. This engaging and interactive math website is sure to challenge, educate and entertain your students. Thinking...more
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Help your students to uncomplicated the intricate world of algebra. This engaging and interactive math website is sure to challenge, educate and entertain your students. Thinking Blocks presents students with video tutorials, interactive activities, virtual tutors, and more. Topic choices include addition/subtraction, multiplication/division and ratio word problems. Blocks are used to represent numbers within the math problem. Students are guided step-by-step as they solve the multi-step problems. Each lesson includes only eight questions, so they could easily be completed during one regular class period. There are six lessons in each of the mathematical areas. FLASH is required for some of the activities.

tag(s): addition (128), division (98), multiplication (122), ratios (47), subtraction (109), vision (45)

In the Classroom

Try an interactive whiteboard and treat your students to this challenging math activity. If you are able to use a lab or laptops, differentiate your instruction and allow the students to work on skills at their own levels. Each of the three "topic" sets has six lessons.

After you use it in class, include this site on your teacher web page for students to practice prior to your test or the "big one."

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Adapt-a-Strategy for ENL/ESL - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Need clarification about ESL vs. ELL vs. ENL? You will find that with this professional learning module. Next, learn about the different frameworks and pedagogies. Then the need for...more
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Need clarification about ESL vs. ELL vs. ENL? You will find that with this professional learning module. Next, learn about the different frameworks and pedagogies. Then the need for getting to know your student is explained, and finally, move to vocabulary, reading, writing, mathematics, technology, science/social studies, art and music, and physical education strategies. Adapt your existing lesson plans using these simple strategies to help ENL students. Click on the activity type you have planned and find suggestions and resources to help your ENL/ESL students be successful with the lesson. Some of the same strategies may help students with IEPs for speech and language or learning support.

tag(s): teaching strategies (41)

In the Classroom

Share this one with your colleagues who also have ENL/ESL students.

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World News in Special English - VOA

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4 to 8
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VOA offers audio and written radio scripts of a wide range of news stories in areas including science, agriculture, culture, health, and education. The language used is simple, and...more
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VOA offers audio and written radio scripts of a wide range of news stories in areas including science, agriculture, culture, health, and education. The language used is simple, and the stories are read more slowly than the average radio broadcast. The site includes its own dictionary ("Word Book") and pronunciation guide, as well as links to many other features. Contains RealAudio and MP3 downloadable audio files. If you have high speed internet, you can also use the streaming option.

tag(s): agriculture (49), news (229)

In the Classroom

Use this simplified news site to help students improve listening skills and vocabulary while learning about current events. This is an easy way to differentiate for students who process information more slowly as English language learners or for other reasons.

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World Geography Quizzes - Sheppard Software

Grades
3 to 12
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With such poor results as a nation on geography testing, we all should try these geography games to build student knowledge of U.S. and world geography. Students can click on ...more
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With such poor results as a nation on geography testing, we all should try these geography games to build student knowledge of U.S. and world geography. Students can click on the region of the world and practice at different levels of difficulty. Even adults can find a challenge. Offered in a "dial up version" for those accessing the sites from a slower connection.

tag(s): capitals (15), continents (32), countries (69), maps (208)

In the Classroom

Be sure to put a link for these online games and quizzes on your teacher web page for the summer and throughout the school year. Students can use them to practice for your geography quizzes or as extra challenges. The different levels of dificulty will allow you to differentiate your instruction easily.

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Windows to the Universe - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Grades
6 to 12
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There is SO much to see and do on this site! Click on one of three main topics (Our Planet, Our Solar System, or Astronomy and the Universe), choose one ...more
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There is SO much to see and do on this site! Click on one of three main topics (Our Planet, Our Solar System, or Astronomy and the Universe), choose one of three levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced), and begin to browse through the rich collection of text, images, movies, animation, and more. Check out the array of interactive games, participate in a group on-line journal, or read some of the latest earth and space news. This is an excellent resource for earth and space science teachers and students. Also available in Spanish.

tag(s): animation (61), images (270), planets (111), solar system (108)

In the Classroom

This is a safe, easy-to-understand resource for independent student research. Design a simple Web hunt to create a differentiated activity for multi-ability classes.

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World Myths and Legends in Art - Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Grades
9 to 12
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Explore how myths and legends have taken visual form in the works of artists with this online gallery of 26 masterpieces from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Apart from ...more
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Explore how myths and legends have taken visual form in the works of artists with this online gallery of 26 masterpieces from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Apart from the art, students can learn about what a myth actually is, and read about multicultural mythological themes. Includes a glossary, bibliography, and teaching materials.

In the Classroom

Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on myths & legends. This would be a great introductory activity, as a lot of the content is defining and providing examples that differentiate the two. This would be a great resource for a Language Arts teacher.

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Visionlearning - Visionlearning, Inc

Grades
6 to 12
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Complete a free online registration and begin to explore an impressive collection of learning modules that address chemistry, general science, physics, math in science, process of science,...more
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Complete a free online registration and begin to explore an impressive collection of learning modules that address chemistry, general science, physics, math in science, process of science, earth science, and scientists and research. Many modules contain interactive animations, a glossary, related current events, practice exercises, and biographic information about scientists who worked with that particular concept. Members can personalize each module with comments, links, or notes.

tag(s): acids and bases (7), carbon (15), cells (80), darwin (13), earth (185), energy (131), gravity (42), light (52), matter (47), molecules (40), optics (12), paleontology (27), periodic table (44), photosynthesis (20), planets (111), reading comprehension (142), rock cycle (12), rocks (36), scientific method (47), scientists (62), space (212), water (101), waves (15)

In the Classroom

Include this site to supplement your current grade 6-12 science curriculum. Use the resources to differentiate instruction for gifted students in lower grades or as remediation for struggling students in older grades. Use the student materials for differentiating instruction or as homework. Have students share their learning or understanding of a topic with video explanations using a tool like Flip, reviewed here. Flip is an augmentation tool for video responses to a question along with comments from peers. Transform technology use in your classroom and take student learning a step further by asking them to create and share their own multimeda presentation along with suggestions for learning about their topic of interest. Use a tool like Sway, reviewed here. Sway is a presentation tool that offers multimedia options including text, video, and images.

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Justice on Trial - Minnesota Public Radio

Grades
9 to 12
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What is the proper role of international courts in keeping world order? This site from the American Radioworks series examines the precedents, premises, and problems inherent in using...more
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What is the proper role of international courts in keeping world order? This site from the American Radioworks series examines the precedents, premises, and problems inherent in using international law to punish war criminals and keep the peace internationally. AP high school students will find this one a challenging issue. There is plenty of information to learn and discuss on this site.

tag(s): courts (19)

In the Classroom

Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on International Trials or the legal consequences of Genocide in a US government or history course. The site is a little text-heavy, and would work best with higher level high school classes. To assess student learning and differentiate between the trial events, have students create a timeline describing the events of all three events. We recommend using an online tool such as Timelline Infographic Templates, reviewed here.

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Take a Walk in my Shoes - TeachersFirst

Grades
7 to 9
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A lesson that uses the original partition of Israel in 1947 to examine the cultural conflicts in the middle east. Students use a series of role plays to understand the ...more
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A lesson that uses the original partition of Israel in 1947 to examine the cultural conflicts in the middle east. Students use a series of role plays to understand the issues and emotions that abound in the region. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): character education (75), empathy (26), israel (14), palestine (5)

In the Classroom

The lesson plan includes student handouts and technology options for students to share their projects in several ways. Teachers can easily differentiate the challenge level of projects by specifying which tools to use. Include this lesson as part of your activities to teach empathy for others.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Hayes vs. Tilden - Harpweek.com

Grades
6 to 12
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Compare the 2000 election controversy to the 1876 presidential election, in which the Electoral College ended up deciding the presidency. This site is especially noteworthy for its...more
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Compare the 2000 election controversy to the 1876 presidential election, in which the Electoral College ended up deciding the presidency. This site is especially noteworthy for its use of historical political cartoons and its day-by-day recounting of the events following the general election. From Harpweek.com, which creates resources from archival editions of Harper's Weekly.

Although this resource was created based on the 2000 election, the background information and historical comparisons are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.

tag(s): college (45), electoral college (22)

In the Classroom

Use the political cartoons as starters or introductory activities during a lesson on the controversial election. Find a cartoon that you think would be the best understood boy your students as well as the one that will most likely get them communicating and thinking about the topic on hand. Posting the image on the projector, have students reflect on the image either verbally or in some sort of journal writing. To differentiate it for a higher-level class, have the students respond to a specific component of the image, such as perspective, point of view, bias, intent, various layers, etc.

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Patterns in Mathematics - CPB/Annenberg

Grades
1 to 6
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This tutorial from the Annenberg Foundation is designed to help teachers interested in working with logical and numerical patterns in mathematics. It includes several animated tutorials...more
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This tutorial from the Annenberg Foundation is designed to help teachers interested in working with logical and numerical patterns in mathematics. It includes several animated tutorials which are great for teachers and could also be used by some students. There are also teaching strategies and other instructional ideas, such as suggestions for adapting the instruction to varying grade levels. This is an interesting site for mathematics teachers who want a refresher or some new ideas for presenting content.

tag(s): logic (163), patterns (63)

In the Classroom

Use the suggestions for adapting the instuction to varying grade levels to help differentiate logic and patterns for your students.

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Twitter Chat: Fix Frustration with Differentiation! - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This archived Twitter chat is from September 2022 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is: Fix Frustration with Differentiation!. During this chat, participants: 1. Defined...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from September 2022 and will open in Wakelet. The title of this chat is: Fix Frustration with Differentiation!. During this chat, participants: 1. Defined and discussed differentiated instruction, 2. Explored tools and resources for differentiating instruction in the classroom, and 3. Shared ways to differentiate instruction for students in all learning environments.

tag(s): differentiation (83), twitterchatarchive (172)

In the Classroom

Find resources and information about differentiated instruction. Share this chat with your colleagues looking for strategies and resources on differentiated instruction.

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