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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Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using Non-Fiction Text Features to Find Information Efficiently - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): professional development (290), reading comprehension (143), reading strategies (92)
In the Classroom
Share this article and the included activities with peers as part of your professional development activities. Work with your peers to identify specific nonfiction texts to use during your lessons. One excellent resource for finding short, nonfiction articles is Newsela, reviewed here. Assign articles to students through Newsela and differentiate information based on individual student needs. Use Newsela's annotation feature to highlight text features discussed during your lessons.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Achievery - AT&T
Grades
K to 12tag(s): blended learning (27), coding (96), digital citizenship (98), engineering (134), environment (246), equations (125), geometric shapes (139), graphic design (49), internet safety (116), literature (208), map skills (64), measurement (118), media literacy (109), narrative (15), numbers (111), operations (70), order of operations (30), problem solving (250), remote learning (31), Research (78), social and emotional learning (134), spanish (105), STEM (333), substitutes (24), writing (305)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for lessons in many content areas to engage students using popular video clips. Although originally designed for remote learning, all lessons can be easily adapted for in-class instruction. Easily find activities to differentiate instruction for different student ability levels by browsing options below or above the student's current grade level. Many lessons include worksheets in PDF format. Turn these activities into a digital format by taking a screenshot of the document, then save as the background on Google Slides, reviewed here. Add text boxes in the appropriate place on the slide for students to add responses. Use Pear Deck Flashcard Factory, reviewed here, to create flashcards for students to practice the vocabulary highlighted in each lesson.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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C-Span Classroom - C-Span
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): branches of government (60), civil rights (215), constitution (98), declaration of independence (15), elections (83), electoral college (22), environment (246), journalism (72), nasa (35), STEM (333), supreme court (30)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to access many video resources and lessons to teach social studies topics. Include lessons and activities as part of interactive lessons created with Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here. Include quizzes, videos, links to documents, and more to create flipped or blended learning lessons on Microsoft PowerPoint Online that differentiate student abilities and interests and a resource for students to complete lessons individually at their own pace. As a final learning activity and to enhance learning, ask students to share their understanding of the content by creating short video clips made with FlexClip, reviewed here. Modify templates provided by FlexClip to create a short but content-rich overview of the lesson that shares student understanding of the information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Real World Exploration - Amazon Future Engineer
Grades
K to 12tag(s): careers (195), coding (96), computers (109), engineering (134), STEM (333), virtual field trips (130)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free materials shared on this site to introduce and develop your students' computer science skills. Learn more about computer science by taking the professional development activities provided by Amazon Future Engineer. Use the timeline on the home page to select materials appropriate for your students and differentiate options for advanced students. Share the self-guided options with students interested in computer science careers and those who already understand coding and want to develop higher-level skills. Ask students to make simple explainer videos using AnyRec Screen Recorder, reviewed here, to show others how to create code. After taking virtual field trips to see the work of computer science engineers or participating in a class chat, ask students to explore other STEM careers. Find many ideas at these resources that include the career tag on TeachersFirst.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Parlay Genie - Parlay
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (232), Teacher Utilities (184), teaching strategies (59)
In the Classroom
Use Parlay Genie to quickly generate discussion questions for whole-class or groups for any topic. Easily differentiate questions for different groups of students by developing questions for different grade levels to match student abilities. If you are not sharing discussions through Parlay, use many digital resources to share questions and gather information from students. For example, engage students in the discussion activity by asking them to share a short response using Vevox, reviewed here. Use the students' responses to generate a word cloud in Vevox to highlight common responses. Then ask students to work in groups that explore the initial responses more in-depth to extend understanding. Have each group work on a collaborative document such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word. As a final project, have student groups share their responses, including additional media resources, by creating a slide presentation with Google Slides, reviewed here, or Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Curipod - Curipod AS
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (232), assessment (131), blended learning (27), differentiation (79), Online Learning (32), remote learning (31), slides (38), social and emotional learning (134), Teacher Utilities (184), teaching strategies (59)
In the Classroom
Use Curipod as a starting point for creating lessons and student activities, then modify the content to fit your curriculum and students' abilities and needs. The Brain Break activities are an excellent starting point for using Curipod in your classroom. Select an activity from the Brain Break options, then choose a grade level and follow the prompts to share a short mental break with your students. Copy and paste standards when creating a lesson as a starting point to add content for the lesson. When using any AI technology, verify the information provided is accurate before sharing it with students. Use Curripod as a flipped or blended learning activity, share the join code with students, and ask them to complete the activities within a designated period before reviewing together as a class. Easily modify any template to differentiate instruction for different groups of students. For example, when introducing decimals, provide a basic introduction with vocabulary and instructional content to one group of students but add more challenging content, such as adding decimals for students already familiar with this topic. Coordinate with other teachers to create cross-curricular activities or when planning units together.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Geekersoft PDF Converter Online - Geekersoft
Grades
K to 12tag(s): conversions (37), editing (85), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site for any number of classroom uses. Convert PDF worksheets to Word documents, then edit and change information to fit your needs. Differentiate learning by adapting information on a PDF document to fit the learning needs of students that need additional support or provide extended education for gifted and advanced learners. Take advantage of file converters such as this one to create unique class books. For example, after converting a PDF template to a Word document for students to create a newsletter about features of different states, convert each student's word document back to a PDF file using PDFaid, reviewed here. Then upload all class newsletters into one document using PDF to Flipbook Converter, reviewed here to create an online flippable book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SwifDoo PDF - SwifDoo Software
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (93), editing (85), Microsoft (55)
In the Classroom
Download and use SwifDoo PDF for many of your classroom needs. Edit documents to differentiate instruction based on student interests and abilities. If your original document isn't in PDF format, use a conversion tool such as CleverPDF, reviewed here, to convert your file to PDF and begin using SwifDoo. Use the annotation feature as a collaborative tool for you and your students. For example, add feedback to a student document as an annotation and allow them to respond on the same document. Share the same feature with students working on collaborative projects as a tool for sharing ideas within a single document. Add a password to sensitive documents shared with parents, such as behavior reports or feedback on academic progress. Use the Merge tool to combine multiple files to create remote learning packets, share missed classroom assignments, or create a class handbook with pertinent information.Edge Features:
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Requires download/installation of software
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WeTeachNYC Search Library - New York City Dept of Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): newbies (9), OER (37), preK (291), professional development (290), resources (80), substitutes (24)
In the Classroom
Add this extensive search library to your current toolbox of resources for classroom and professional use. Search for ideas when planning upcoming units and lessons and provide differentiated instruction to meet your students' learning needs. Use a learning management system such as Eduflow, reviewed here, or Classkick, reviewed here, to easily create and share personalized instruction that includes resources found on this site along with your current lessons and materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Open Textbook Library - Univ. of Minnesota's College of Education & Human Development
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): blended learning (27), differentiation (79), OER (37), professional development (290), remote learning (31)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this website as a resource for finding supplemental materials for your classroom and professional development information for personal use. For example, if you teach algebra, use the search feature to find introductory and prealgebra textbooks to reinforce concepts to students differently than your current teaching materials. For students who need enrichment material, take advantage of algebra 2 books to provide differentiated instruction to meet their learning needs. This resource would be ideal to use in a remote learning situation. Consider curating this site along with other open education resources (OER) using Wakelet, reviewed here. Create a collection in Wakelet of your OER resources and share it with colleagues as a professional resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SchoolStack - Sarah Schwartz and Hal Schwartz
Grades
K to 12tag(s): differentiation (79), personalized learning (10), playlists (5), remote learning (31), Teacher Utilities (184)
In the Classroom
Use SchoolStack to differentiate learning for different student needs and abilities by quickly modifying lesson activities to share with individual students or groups. Replace your current homework activities using SchoolStack to provide students with various options for completing learning activities. Offer activities that meet student interests and learning styles within each stack to encourage student interest and participation. When teaching blended learning or remote learning activities, use SchoolStack to share information with students and gather data and feedback from their participation in the lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Georgia Virtual Learning Shared Resources - Georgia Virtual Learning
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): art history (102), body systems (45), business (47), chinese (40), drawing (56), environment (246), financial literacy (93), french (67), geology (61), japanese (51), latin (22), literature (208), music theory (47), myths and legends (43), narrative (15), novels (32), nutrition (134), oceans (137), OER (37), photography (131), plagiarism (31), poetry (191), psychology (60), robotics (30), romeo & juliet (7), short stories (18), sociology (23), space (236), spanish (105), STEM (333), writers workshop (30)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a supplemental resource for your current lessons, as a resource for students to learn about subjects not covered in their current courses, and to differentiate learning for students. For example, provide remediation to high school students by sharing the 9th or 10th-grade literature and composition courses as a review activity or enhance your British Literature unit by assigning a module that focuses specifically on 17th, 18th, or 19th-century British literature. Consider assigning different activities to groups of students to present to their peers. Ask them to use an infographic creator such as the Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here, as a tool for sharing important information. As a final learning extension, create a digital class book using Ourboox, reviewed here, to share understanding of the content learned. Include text, images, maps, and more in the student-created books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pear Deck Flashcard Factory - Pear Deck
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): flash cards (43), grammar review (31), test prep (69), vocabulary (248), vocabulary development (98)
In the Classroom
Flashcard Factory is an excellent tool for both in-person and remote learning. Use this feature to create vocabulary lists for spelling, science terms, social studies events, etc. Differentiate learning by creating lists for different student abilities or interests. Because students are the creators, they are engaged and more motivated in the learning process. Extend learning by asking students to write short stories or create writing journals using the vocabulary words used in the flashcards. For example, search for vocabulary at Read Write Think, reviewed here, to find the lesson plan for My World of Lists: Building Vocabulary Lists. This lesson culminates with students creating a "My World of Words Journal."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Edia - Edia Learning Inc.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): charts and graphs (179), coordinates (17), data (182), decimals (88), division (102), equations (125), exponents (39), factoring (28), factors (29), fractions (170), functions (55), geometric shapes (139), inequalities (27), multiplication (124), negative numbers (13), number sense (71), place value (38), probability (118), quiz (61), quizzes (86), sequences (12), sequencing (17), Teacher Utilities (184)
In the Classroom
Use Edia to create, share, and differentiate math practice questions with students. Create practice sheets for students on the fly as you assess understanding of concepts or review previously learned material. If parents ask for additional support for their students, create individual practice on the necessary skills. Some of Edia's explanations may take a different approach than methods taught in your classroom, use this to your advantage and ask students to share different methods for approaching problems. Ask students to share their approaches using a screen recording tool such as Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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#GoOpenVA - Virginia Department of Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): OER (37), preK (291), professional development (290), Teacher Utilities (184)
In the Classroom
Bookmark #GoOpenVA to use as your first stop in lesson planning. Take advantage of the search filters to narrow down the content and grade-level information to suit your needs. This website is also an excellent resource for finding materials to differentiate instruction. Use higher-level activities to challenge gifted students and search for content for remediation. As you gather resources into a collection, or lesson plans, be sure to think about ways to incorporate technology in meaningful ways to enhance and extend learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brain Teasers and Puzzles - Brain Easer
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (154), geometric shapes (139), patterns (72), Problem Based Learning (11), problem solving (250)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this brain teaser site to use throughout the school year. Share a problem of the week with your students to complete as homework or during a work center. Provide teasers of different levels of difficulty to differentiate and challenge your students. Enhance student learning by asking them to explain their success in solving challenges and sharing their process to find the correct solution. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to share your weekly teasers, then have students create and share a video response. This is a link to Padlet's Help section for posting video or an image. Extend learning further by creating a class book using Imagine Forest, reviewed here. Use Imagine Forest to make and share a digital book of brain teasers. Use the interactive elements to add links to audio suggestions for tackling problems or link to video solutions on the final pages of your book.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mensa for Kids - Mensa Foundation
Grades
K to 9tag(s): africa (150), colors (63), genetics (82), geometric shapes (139), gifted (63), hurricanes (34), literature (208), probability (118), STEM (333), stories and storytelling (68), writing (305)
In the Classroom
Enrollment in Mensa isn't required to take advantage of the many resources found on this site for all students. Use the reading lists as a starting point for stocking your class library or a student reading list for the current school year. Encourage students to complete the reading list and return to Mensa for a free t-shirt. Incorporate the lesson plans into your existing curriculum, then differentiate learning as you adapt to student needs. For example, use the Book Review Writing lesson to help students understand the difference between reviews and reports. This lesson also includes specific information on what to have with book reports. Begin by teaching this lesson in small groups, then use FigJam, reviewed here, to create a frame for each of the main topics. Enhance student learning by asking students to add sticky notes with their observations and thoughts. Have your group work together to share their book review using a simple to use blogging tool such as Telegraph, reviewed here. Extend learning further by creating a class podcast sharing book reviews created through the lesson process found on Mensa for Kids. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and publishing podcasts that is appropriate for students of all ages. Use Buzzsprout to record and share book reviews throughout the school year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Core Knowledge - The Core Knowledge Foundation
Grades
K to 8tag(s): commoncore (59), professional development (290), Teacher Utilities (184), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
Save this site for use as an entire curriculum, or use the materials to supplement your current resources. Use the materials to differentiate learning activities for your students. Provide students additional support using content found at lower grade levels or challenge gifted students with materials from a higher grade level. Use Canva for Education, reviewed here, as an alternative to printed assignments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whiteboard.chat - whiteboard.chat
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (93), differentiation (79), iwb (27)
In the Classroom
Use Whiteboard.chat to collaborate with students to share and organize information instantly. This tool even allows educators to auto-correct all boards with a single click! Use the PDF document feature to differentiate instruction with groups of students or individuals. Use the breakout feature to conduct small group meetings or provide personalized instruction to individual students. Allow students to create collaborative drawings as responses to literature. They can map out the plot or themes, add labels, create character studies, and more. Have a group of students create a drawing so that another group can use it as a writing prompt. Use Whiteboard.com as a brainstorming or sketching space as groups (or the class) share ideas for a major project or for solving a real-world problem. Use this site in a computer lab (or on laptops) to draw the setting in a story as it is read aloud. As an assessment idea, have students draw out a simple cartoon with stick figures to explain a more complex process, such as how democracy works. If you are lucky enough to teach in a BYOD setting, have a blended classroom, or are distance teaching, use Whiteboard.chat to demonstrate and illustrate any concept while students use the chat and drawing tools to interact in real-time. If you are studying weather, have students diagram the layers of the atmosphere and what happens during a thunderstorm, for example. Introduce this tool to students who are working on group projects. Alternatively, have students use this to work as partners or as a small team within a breakout area to complete complex math problems or equations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Change - Laura Faye Tenenbaum, Randal Jackson, Holly Shaftel
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): climate change (110), glaciers (18)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students and provide time for them to explore on their own. Ask them to share their findings and observations using sticky notes posted to a collaborative IdeaBoardz, reviewed here. Enhance student learning using Newsela, reviewed here to assign texts and articles related to glaciers and climate change. Use Newsela's teaching tools to assign writing prompts and quizzes within any shared articles. Differentiate instruction with Newsela by choosing texts that match the different reading and comprehension levels of your students. Extend learning by asking individuals or groups of students to use Juxtapose, reviewed here, to create a before and after image to demonstrate changes of ice formations over time. Be sure to follow the tips and tricks found on Juxtapose as your students build their interactive images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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