A differentiated classroom is characterized by instruction, assessment, and work patterns tailored to individual student needs. The teacher must get to know each student's learning profile through observation and assessment. Lessons are differentiated in content, process, product, and environment. Strategies include providing multiple materials and assignments at different levels of complexity tailored to learning styles. The goal is an engaging classroom where all students can progress towards standards at their own pace.

1. Teaching in a Differentiated
Classroom
By Haibin Li

2. Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom
• Characteristics of a Differentiated
Classroom
• Requirements for Teacher in a
Differentiated Classroom
• Strategies for Differentiation

3. Characteristics of Differentiated
Classroom
• Instruction Differentiation
• Assessment Differentiation
• Flexible Work Patterns
• Students’ Engagement

4. Characteristic 1:
Instruction Differentiation
• All students are encouraged to explore and
learn the skills and factual information
related to key concepts and principles at
various levels and with different
approaches.
• Different instructions are given to the
struggling learners and advanced learners,
enabling them to master and apply the
knowledge and skills being taught at their
own paces.

5. Characteristic 2:
Assessment Differentiation
• Instead of giving one-time overall assessments
for the whole class, the teacher gives
continuous assessments at individual or group
level to check students’ readiness for moving
forward.
• Based on the assessment result, teacher may
provide additional instructions or guidance to
facilitate students’ further exploration of ideas
when needed.

6. Characteristic 3:
Flexible Work Patterns
• Students may work individually, in pairs, or in
a group.
• The grouping can be based on learning style,
learning ability, interest, or some other
factors.
• The goal is to provide a learning environment
and work pattern that best meet students’
needs

7. Characteristic 4:
Students’ Engagement
• In a differentiated classroom, varied activities,
contents, and instructions allow the teaching
and learning pertain more to the students
learning interests, ability, and style, thus
promotes students engagement.
• Students are more active in their own learning
process, more eager to explore ideas and
concepts, and be responsible for their own
work.

8. Requirements for Teacher
• Get to Know Your Student
• Adjust teaching contents and design
engaging activities
• Planning

9. Requirement 1:
Get to Know Your Student
• Methods
– Observation
– Formative Assessment
– Parent-Teacher Communication
• Learning Profile
– Learning Style
– Learning Interest
– Knowledge Level
– Social Background
– Cultural Background

10. Requirement 2:
Adjust Contents and Design Activities
• Come up with different ways for teaching and
learning so that all students can work toward
the same goal while each student may have
his/her own path and pace to the goal.
• Different learning options and tasks at
different challenge levels should be arranged
to help students make sense of the concepts
and skills being taught.

11. Requirement 3:
Planning
• The teaching materials, methods, classroom
activities, group and individual assignments
should be carefully planned out before class
time.
• In this sense the teacher in a differentiated
classroom moves away from the role of
knowledge keeper and dispenser to the role
of learning option planner and organizer.

12. Strategies for Differentiated
Instruction
• Content
• Process
• Product
• Learning Environment

13. Strategy 1:
Differentiation by Content
• The content is what’s being taught in the
classroom based on state and federal
curriculum standards.
• Based on the knowledge level of students, the
content may be differentiated quantitatively or
qualitatively.
• Teachers provide different texts, novels, or any
other forms of materials to help students
achieve the learning goals, without changing
the instructional objectives or lowering the
performance standards.

14. Strategy 2:
Differentiation by Process
• The process is how the teaching and learning
activities are organized in the classroom.
• Design activities of various complexity level and
targeting different learning styles so that
students can learn in a way that is easiest for
them.
• Offer instructions in multiple modalities to
ensure students’ engagement and deepen their
understanding of the content.
• Allow multiple working patterns, including individual
assignments and group collaborations.

15. Strategy 3:
Differentiation by Product
• Product is what the students produce as a
result of the learning process to
demonstrate their understanding of a
concept or mastery of a skill.
• Offer students different avenues to show
evidence of what they have learned.
• Encourage students to choose different
projects according to their learning
preferences and strengths.

16. Strategy 4:
Learning Environment Differentiation
• Learning environment differentiation refers to
creating and maintaining an optimal classroom
setting and learning atmosphere to facilitate
teaching and learning interactions.
• A safe and collaborative learning environment
promotes students’ engagement in classroom
activities and makes the teaching-learning
process more effective.
• A teacher should consider environmental elements
and students’ sensitivities when maintain classroom
settings.

17. Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P-XVPFXL4I

18. Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom
Questions?