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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Cash Out - mrnussbaum.com
Grades
1 to 5tag(s): addition (128), coins (5), counting (60), money (119), subtraction (109)
In the Classroom
Reinforce student skills and give them practice in counting money and making change. Start out at easy levels with hints and work up to a greater difficulty level. This site offers great opportunities to differentiate for your students! Students can work in groups or individually. Have real coins available for those who need to feel and see the change before clicking the online coins the correct amount of times.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Visual Math Learning - visualmathlearning.com
Grades
2 to 8In the Classroom
Many students feel inadequate with math concepts. Use these simple lessons and activities to teach concepts in a meaningful and easy to understand manner. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Or have students work on individual computers and use this site to differentiate instruction to meet each student's current math level. After understanding, provide additional practice on paper or with other manipulatives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Differentiator - Ian Byrd
Grades
K to 12tag(s): blooms taxonomy (7), critical thinking (112), differentiation (83), newbies (14)
In the Classroom
As an example, use a verb from Bloom' taxonomy such as "evaluate." Click on the part of the sentence at the top, in parenthesis, to enter your content such as "patterns of environmental issues." Choose the resource you want students to use, the product you want them to make, and the number of students in a group by clicking on the tabs. Example objective: Students will evaluate the patterns of environmental issues using websites to create a news report in groups of two. Save your objective by copying and pasting it into any document or online tool. The Differentiator will give you many project ideas that you may not have thought of yourself, and serves as a welcome reminder of different activities and expectations you can use in your classroom. Take a look at this site at the beginning of the school year or when creating a new unit (or project). Find new ways to differentiate for your gifted students using this creative and powerful tool. If your gifted students test out of your current math lessons, use this site to find new material to challenge their minds. This site is deceptively quick and simple, but it could be very useful when writing detailed, powerful lesson plans.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Find a Book - lexile.com
Grades
1 to 12One disadvantage of the site is that you can only enter a keyword when you get to the third step. After a book list based on interests appears, then you can search by keyword to make the search zero in on specifics. When teachers or students select books for a reading list, they can then click to see the complete list of books they have selected. Clicking on a book title leads to another screen, but it does not contain a book summary; instead, it has a list of other keywords for the book along with other book data.
tag(s): book lists (162), independent reading (86), reading lists (79)
In the Classroom
This site is great for teachers searching for books at specific lexile levels. Learning support and ESL/ELL teachers can find books to accompany units in content area classes but on the correct lexile level. Students can also use the site by entering their grade levels and what kind of readers they are. Use this site to differentiate the learning experience for all levels of students. Rather than having students complete traditional book reports, why not have them complete a multimedia project? Provide some choices such as a podcast, using PodoMatic (reviewed here), interactive venn diagram comparing characters (reviewed here), or online book using Bookemon (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Starfall - Starfall Education
Grades
K to 3This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (144), phonics (50), reading comprehension (142)
In the Classroom
This website could be used for an entire class using your interactive whiteboard or projector. You could also set up a learning center for use during your L.A. block. Use this site to differentiate reading levels for your students. Be certain to save this site in your class favorites and list this site on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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AlgebraLAB - Mainland High School
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): calculators (37), coordinates (15), equations (120), vectors (16)
In the Classroom
This informational site is a MUST HAVE in any secondary math class. Be certain to save this site in your favorites. The site highlights countless algebra topics (and other math areas). Share the information on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share the link on your class website so students can access the site both in and out of the classroom. Have cooperative learning groups explore one of the topics presented at the lessons or activities link. Have the groups create a video to share what they learned. Share the videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector using a tool such as TeacherTube (explained here). Differentiate! You can easily find extension activities for your more-able students to do while you reinforce the basics with others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Autism4teachers - Autism4teachers.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): autism (15), social skills (22)
In the Classroom
Use this free website (and the many tips) to help your autistic students succeed, whether you are in a regular classroom or special ed. Share this link in your class newsletter and on your class website. Be sure to provide this link to any colleagues helping autistic students in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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KENKEN - Nextoy, LLC
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): addition (128), division (98), logic (165), multiplication (122), puzzles (143), subtraction (109), sudoku (10), vision (45)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore the puzzles on their own. Use this site to differentiate for various students. Be certain to save this site in your favorites and check back often. List this link on your class website so students can "play" both in and out of the classroom. Have older students attempt to create their own KENKEN puzzles. It's not as easy as you think.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Story Starters - Scholastic
Grades
K to 6Be warned: the "spinning" page has some rather loud audio sounds. Either turn up the volume and enjoy, or hit the audio to mute the sound!
tag(s): creative writing (119), writing (317)
In the Classroom
Whether you are looking for a daily prompt for your students, or individual prompts for writing stations, you will find some creative ideas here. Share how to use this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Set up writing stations and have students use this site to find their prompts. Use this site to differentiate for your gifted students by allowing them to choose a prompt at a higher grade level. List this link on your class website for some writing practice or extra credit writing exercises.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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AAA Math
Grades
K to 8Be aware there are several advertisements at this website (all appropriate). But considering this site is free (and full of ready to go math activities), the advertisements are worth the minor annoyance.
tag(s): estimation (34), exponents (35), measurement (125), mental math (18), money (119), patterns (62), place value (34), statistics (116)
In the Classroom
This site has countless possibilities in the classroom. Use the descriptions and activities as an anticipatory set for a new topic in math class. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Set up a learning station for students and differentiate the activities for your lower and higher level math students. Provide this link on your class website for students to use to review at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Volcano - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 6Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): volcanoes (56)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Egg-Laying Animals - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 6Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): animals (284)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Egg Hatching Into Sequencing - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 3Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): animals (284), sequencing (17)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Tactile Parts of Speech - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 3Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): parts of speech (40), speech (66)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Nouns and Adjectives Are Not Just Words - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 3Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): parts of speech (40), speech (66)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Plan: Dinosaur Math - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 1Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subject or concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. The lesson includes national standards.
tag(s): addition (128)
In the Classroom
Experienced and new teachers alike will find this example helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lessons for All - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 6Lesson content includes letter-sound relationships, parts of speech, paragraph writing, sequencing, earth science, animals, egg-laying animals, volcanoes, addition, and more. The staff of TeachersFirst has incorporated technology options, tips, and templates appropriate for younger students into the lesson plans to add yet another way for your students to experience and interact with new concepts.
Many of these ideas and templates can be adapted for use with almost any subjects and concepts, to differentiate for different learning styles. All lessons include national standards. Experienced and new teachers alike will find these examples helpful in designing multi-sensory, technology-infused lessons.
In the Classroom
If your classroom includes special needs learners or simply students who need a multi-sensory approach in order to master new concepts, try these lessons or use them as prototypes as you plan for other curriculum content. If you mentor new teachers or student teachers, share these examples for infusing technology into lessons and for differentiating lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Games: Kids Numbers - Education.com
Grades
K to 5This site includes a worksheet generator so teachers can prepare their own review work. There is a calculator one click away for those who need it. There are some minor advertisements at this website.
tag(s): addition (128), division (98), fractions (159), money (119), multiplication (122), operations (71), subtraction (109), time (92), vision (45)
In the Classroom
Display this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector to create an anticipatory set for a new concept in your elementary math class. Once students are familiar with the activities, allow them to explore this website if they finish early or for extra practice. Put this site in your classroom newsletter or on your class website so students can explore and learn at home.ENL/ESL students will enjoy this site since it will help them learn the vocabulary for math operations in English, and it will also allow them to succeed at something in school. This site can also be used to differentiate for your learning support and/or gifted students based on their current level of math instruction.
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Math Baseball - Funbrain
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): addition (128), baseball (33), division (98), multiplication (122), subtraction (109)
In the Classroom
Have you students work on individual computers and "take a swing" at this math activity. It offers a highly motivating review activity on various difficulty levels, enabling the teacher to differentiate the instruction based on the math levels of the individual students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ESL Gold Picture Dictionary - ESL Gold
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): vocabulary (236), vocabulary development (89)
In the Classroom
Use this site to share vocabulary by category, using pictures, audio, and written words with your ENL/ELL students, primary students, special ed students, or speech/language students. Include this link in a newsletter that goes home with ENL/ELL students. Mark it as a Favorite on your classroom computer. Demonstrate how to use this website on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students work alone (or with a partner) at their current speaking level. This website could also be used in a regular education class with emerging readers. The five difficulty levels allow teachers the flexibility to differentiate the instruction. Note: small type fonts and some advertising may make this site difficult for some younger students to use. Preview and decide what your class can handle.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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