Sample Lessons

Sample lessons for differentiating instruction

Essentially, differentiating instruction involves the modification of content, process, product, and/or learning environment to tailor curriculum and instruction to the individual needs of all learners. In a differentiated classroom, not every student is doing the same thing in exactly the same way at the same time. While designing instruction, teachers must be clear on what all students need to know, understand, and be able to do at the end of the unit. Familiar with student differences that affect instruction of the unit, teachers build on these differences and make adjustments. "Differentiation is an effective way for teachers to offer meaningful instruction delivered around challenging content and designed to meet the needs of students at their appropriate levels and help them achieve maximum growth" (LOTECED, 2002).

The sample lessons are presented to offer examples of approaches to differentiating instruction in the content disciplines. Strategies employed to address differing student needs in a particular lesson may be useful in another context as well.

English Language Arts
English Language Development
History-Social Science
Mathematics
Physical Education
Science
Visual and Performing Arts

References

Languages Other Than English Center for Educator Development (LOTECED). (2002, April). Differentiated instruction in the foreign language classroom: Meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Communique Issue, 6. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.sedl.org/loteced/communique/n06.html (outside link) .