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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Reading Treks: A Year Down Yonder - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): 1900s (73), commoncore (75), great depression (30)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many suggested classroom uses for this resource found on the Instructional Guide (PDF). Consider using the historical information and primary sources from the book to have students create timelines of the important events during the Great Depression. Class Tools, reviewed here has an easy to use timeline creator or choose from other timeline creation tools located here. Use Curipod, reviewed here to share additional information and activities related to the Great Depression. Include videos, links to primary source documents, and websites appropriate for your students' grade level. Differentiate learning by customizing Curipod activities to match your students' interests and ability levels.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Molly of Denali Podcast - PBS Kids
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): alaska (21), native americans (97), podcasts (104)
In the Classroom
Molly of Denali is perfect for including with any lessons or units on Alaska or Native Americans. Listen to podcasts together as a class pausing throughout the episode as needed to identify important information such as different modes of transportation used in Alaska, weather and climate indicators, and geographic locations referenced. Before beginning your unit, engage students by asking them to brainstorm what they know about Alaska or Native Americans using Padlet, reviewed here, where you can add columns for wildlife, transportation, weather, etc. Build upon students' knowledge and address misconceptions based on your brainstorming activities. Consider creating activities within a learning management system such as Actively Learn, reviewed here. Add videos and articles based on your students' ability levels and comprehension. Enhance learning further using Symbaloo, reviewed here, to share bookmarks for further learning and additional activities. To differentiate learning, create two or more Symbaloo's based upon student interest and/or ability levels. Extend learning by participating in a virtual field trip. Choose from several different options found at Gez.la, reviewed here, and then ask students to to choose and create their own podcasts featuring any destination using Molly of Denali as a model. Spotify for Podcastors (was Anchor), reviewed here, is one of several free podcasting services suitable for classroom use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Johnnie's Math Page - Operations - Johnnie Wilson
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (127), division (97), multiplication (121), operations (72), problem solving (224), subtraction (108)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this math page to find and share engaging games for practicing math facts. Share a link to selected games on classroom computers for student use during math centers. Share this math page with parents as an at-home practice and review site. Due to the variety of activities, this site is an excellent choice for providing differentiated learning opportunities to meet the needs of all students. Extend learning even further by asking students to share tips with their peers on some of the more challenging activities. Use a video response tool like Gravity, reviewed here, and ask students to share their suggestions for learning math facts or how they apply problem-solving skills when faced with difficult math problems.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Open Washington: Open Educational Resources - Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): OER (43), Online Learning (42)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many resources shared on this site to supplement your current classroom instructional materials. Use these materials to find and differentiate learning for students, especially when working with gifted students as you look for content and resources to meet their educational needs that aren't available within your current curriculum. Offer students a variety of options using those found on this site. Share available student choices using Padlet, reviewed here. Enhance learning by encouraging students to collaborate in the learning process using Notejoy, reviewed here. Notejoy offers tools for collaborative note-taking and sharing of ideas through chats, shared images, and more. Ask students to demonstrate their understanding of topics learned by asking them to create a multimedia project sharing their knowledge. Suggestions for multimedia tools include Sway, reviewed here, Wakelet, reviewed here, or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. These multimedia tools present the opportunity to enhance or extend student learning depending on teacher requirements for the project or even student ability; most allow for adding narration, video, text, and links to help explain what certain parts of the content are about.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OER Commons - OER Commons and ISKME
Grades
K to 12tag(s): business (51), OER (43), preK (263), Problem Based Learning (12), Project Based Learning (26), Teacher Utilities (159)
In the Classroom
Bookmark OER Commons 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 to use 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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LibreTexts - LibreTexts
Grades
10 to 12tag(s): business (51), careers (141), cells (83), communication (138), differentiation (90), ecology (102), electricity (62), elements (34), engineering (126), environment (245), evolution (88), financial literacy (89), genetics (81), geology (62), gifted (65), literature (217), logic (163), magnetism (37), mental health (36), nutrition (136), oceans (149), OER (43), organisms (15), periodic table (46), plants (147), professional development (407), psychology (67), religions (84), sociology (24), space (217), spanish (107), statistics (121), STEM (284)
In the Classroom
LibreTexts is a bonanza for AP and teachers of gifted students. Take advantage of the free texts, course outlines, and homework resources to differentiate instruction and provide lessons for advanced students. Choose resources from LibreTexts for use in any classroom to supplement current materials. As part of career-planning activities, ask students to browse through topics that interest them. Encourage students to collaborate with others with similar career interests, both in the classroom and globally. Extend learning by suggesting that students participate in Ted-Ed Clubs, reviewed here. These Clubs allow participants to share in global meetings with peers that have a common interest. As students learn more about their chosen field, encourage them to interact with members of your community to ask questions and perhaps job shadow as a way to understand the career through personal experience. If using course materials and textbooks found on LibreTexts, this is the perfect opportunity for students to ask clarifying questions from their mentor. Enhance learning by making students the experts. Ask them to present their career findings using a multimedia tool like Sway, reviewed here, to share the information learned with peers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FluentKey - Fluentkey, LLC
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chinese (44), DAT device agnostic tool (147), french (75), german (47), multilingual (69), sign language (10), spanish (107), Teacher Utilities (159)
In the Classroom
Use FluentKey to easily differentiate world language lessons for students and allow them to progress at their own speed. Help ENL/ESL students master English using videos and quizzes based on their knowledge level. This is also an excellent tool to provide language learning experiences based on student interests. Even if the language isn't included with the videos on the site, find and upload videos for student use and add quizzes along with additional content. As students become proficient in a new language, encourage them to share their knowledge using a variety of multimedia tools. Annotate images using Google Drawings, reviewed here, create an audio recording of conversations, or use PhotoCollage, reviewed here, to create the collage. As students become more proficient in their new language, ask them to record short podcasts with a podcast creation tool like Podcast Generator, reviewed here, and share tips and advice with their fellow students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classkick - Andrew Rowland and Peter Do
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (150), collaboration (94), Learning Management Systems (20), Teacher Utilities (159)
In the Classroom
Use Classkick in class, for blended learning or remote learning since you can see all students working from anywhere. Use Classkick to differentiate instruction based on students' current performance. Many students are motivated to learn at their own pace using online tools, and Classkick is an option providing lessons in a different format than currently available. If not using Classkick whole - class, it provides many options for helping and enhancing learning for individual students, use for homework, or as a temporary option for providing instruction to home-bound or remote learning students . As students learn through this type of management system, ask them to use a portfolio tool such as Majara, reviewed here, to document and reflect upon their learning process.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Construct3 - Construct.net
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): coding (89), game based learning (182), gamification (78), STEM (284)
In the Classroom
Include Construct3 with your other options for teaching coding to students. Take advantage of the included levels to differentiate learning based on knowledge of coding. If you are uncomfortable with coding, enlist students to become technology coaches in your classroom to teach and share their knowledge with others. Use and share Google Forms to create how-to guides for students to get started including images with tips and suggestions. Ask "in-the-know" students to enhance their learning and create one-page websites using Jimdo, reviewed here, sharing advice for individual games included in Construct3. As students become familiar with coding, have them use FlexClip, reviewed here, to extend their learning by creating simple explainer videos detailing how to build and share personalized games.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Write and Improve - Cambridge English
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): creative writing (123), descriptive writing (40), differentiation (90), letter writing (19), persuasive writing (58), process writing (38), writers workshop (31), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Feedback on this site is based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) scale, learn more about it here. Include this site with your other resources for practicing and teaching writing as you challenge students to improve feedback scores. Take advantage of the different levels to differentiate practice for all students. Ask students to analyze their writing before hitting the feedback button as a self-reflection tool. As students improve writing, use a digital portfolio tool like Seesaw, reviewed here, and upload all revisions. Also, use Seesaw for students to share their thoughts on their writing and individual progress.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Periodic Videos - Periodic Videos and The University of Nottingham
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Include this resource with your other materials for teaching about the periodic table and chemical elements. Customize any of the lessons within TED-ED to meet your lesson objectives. Register for a free account, then follow the steps to duplicate and edit the lesson to meet your needs and share with students. Be sure to share this site with students to use as part of their review and learning activities. Share all of your bookmarked sites with students using a bookmarking tool like Raindrop.io, reviewed here. Raindrop.io includes tools for collaborating and sharing online resources and provides the ability for you or your students to add notes and comments to shared resources. Include this site and others to provide differentiated learning activities for your students using Symbaloo Learning Paths, reviewed here. In addition to web resources like Periodic Videos, Symbaloo Learning Paths provides options for including quizzes, uploading documents, and more to create an entire unit in one place. Instead of a final assessment using a paper and pencil quiz, ask students to modify their learning by creating explainer videos about elements using Clipchamp, reviewed here. If you are unsure about how to assess multimedia projects, find many ideas for implementing rubrics for assessment along with examples and online tools at TeachersFirst Rubrics to the Rescue reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History Tech - Glenn Wiebe
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): back to school (62), branches of government (65), digital storytelling (152), game based learning (182), maps (207), politics (116), primary sources (119), social media (53), teaching strategies (42)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to reference throughout the school year. Use the keyword search option to find ideas for specific units or technology tools to use. Use a bookmarking tool like Wakelet, reviewed here, to collect and share information from this blog along with your other resources. As you gather lesson ideas and create your unit, use Symbaloo Learning Paths, reviewed here, to create differentiated lesson activities for your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CanFigureIt Geometry - CanFigureIt LLC
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): angles (51), geometric shapes (135)
In the Classroom
Include this site with your other tools for teaching and practicing geography concepts. Be sure to share with students on your webpage or blog for easy access at any time. Apply for the Proof Ninja Educator Program to take advantage of the additional features for monitoring student work. Introduce this site to your students on your interactive whiteboard as you work together to learn geometry concepts. Ask students to show proofs and justifications using the program and take a screenshot of their work. Ask students to include their screenshot within a Google document and share their problem-solving process. This site is an excellent way to differentiate learning for different levels of student understanding. Encourage students to create explainer videos using Clipchamp, reviewed here, to modify their learning and to share their understanding with their fellow students. Include those videos on your website for all students to review and access.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Open Middle - N Johnson, R Kaplinsky, B Anderson, D Luevanos, and Z Miller
Grades
K to 12tag(s): logic (163), problem solving (224), statistics (121)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to find math problems correlating to your teaching standards or content. This site is perfect for finding materials to differentiate instruction with different student ability levels. Have students share their results and discuss their problem-solving process on your interactive whiteboard. Take screenshots of the different solutions and include on your class website. Another option is to take a picture of student's written solutions, then use Voxer, reviewed here, to extend student learning by having them add an audio recording describing their mathematical thinking. Share their Voxer to your student's digital portfolio on Seesaw, reviewed here, or another portfolio creation site. As students become more proficient in sharing their mathematical thinking and problem-solving activities, consider using their math talks as part of an ongoing podcast using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, as a way to extend student learning and promote math conversations and help students understand that there may be many different ways to arrive at the right answer to a problem. Buzzsprout features free and easy to use tools including the ability to create and schedule podcasts to be released on any date and time you desire.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ReadingIQ - Age of Learning
Grades
K to 6tag(s): book lists (164), classroom management (123), literacy (117), preK (263), reading comprehension (148), spanish (107)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free reading program to differentiate reading materials for your students both by ability and interests. Set up your program then share learning goals with your students and parents. Engage students use by using the free interactives and printables from ReadWriteThink, reviewed here, and have students create story maps, book covers, and much more as part of their retelling and summarizing activities. Create shared class activities using a video response tool like Gravity, reviewed here, to enhance student learning by asking students to share short book talks about their favorite books read on the site. Take learning even further by creating ongoing podcasts discussing favorite books and characters using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Buzzsprout makes it easy to create and share podcasts by offering scheduling options to meet your needs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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oodlu - Wayne Holmes and Douglas Lapsley
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), flash cards (42), game based learning (182), gamification (78)
In the Classroom
Use oodlu to differentiate learning in your classroom. Assign questions sets to different groups of learners according to their specific needs. Be sure to show students how to log in and access questions (if your class is remote learning, show students the log in, etc. by using a video conference room such as Zoom, reviewed here, and then include a link to the site on your class webpage for students to play at home. At the end of your unit, enhance learning and augment technology use by asking students to plan a multimedia presentation using a tool like Milanote, reviewed here, where you can turn your notes into a storyboard for this project! Extend learning and modify technology use by having students use the Storyboard to create a multimedia presentation with a tool like Sway, reviewed here, to share their learning. Have students include text, images, videos, and a link to oodlu learning games in the Sway.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SummarizeThis - Iris Reading
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): learning disability (22), Special Needs (56), summarizing (22)
In the Classroom
Introduce SummarizeThis to students working on research projects as a way to quickly determine the content and viability of using websites. Use to differentiate instruction with students. Use with learning support students as a resource to make content more accessible. Use the summaries when teaching how to summarize in an ELA class. Compare the summary you create as a class or in small groups with the "automated" one. Are there subtleties or important distinctions that this tool misses? As a challenge for your more critical thinkers, have them try to figure out what signals the tool uses to create its summary.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MySciLife - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 9tag(s): animals (289), critical thinking (118), descriptive writing (40), digital citizenship (89), OER (43), plants (147), scientists (63), social media (53), STEM (284), volcanoes (54), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Join MySciLife to bring excitement and energy to your science classroom. As you complete activities in the platform, use a concept mapping site like MindMup, reviewed here, to replace paper/pencil version of a concept map. Alter students' learning by asking them to create and share infographics based on their research and sharing of ideas. Canva, reviewed here, is an easy to use site for creating infographics using pre-made templates or from scratch. Take student learning to a whole new level by redefining it and having them create a game-based learning activity for their peers using Symbaloo Learning Paths, reviewed here. Symbaloo Learning Paths offers many options for creating differentiated learning using video, quizzes, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Open Up Resources Math Curriculum - Open Up Resources
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): data (148), equations (119), exponents (35), factoring (25), factors (29), fractions (158), geometric shapes (135), measurement (124), OER (43), percent (58), probability (97), pythagorean theorem (18), ratios (47), transformations (12), volume (34)
In the Classroom
Include this site to supplement your current grade 6-8 math curriculum. Use the resources to differentiate instruction for gifted students in lower grades or as remediation for struggling students in older grades. Be sure to take advantage of the family materials providing explanations of math content and strategies for problem-solving. Use the student materials for differentiating instruction or as homework. Have students share their math explanations and strategies with video explanations using a tool like Flip, reviewed here. Flip provides a tool for video responses to a question along with comments from peers. Take student learning a step further and ask them to create and share their own math problems along with suggestions for learning. Use a tool like Sway, reviewed here. Sway is a presentation tool that offers multimedia options including text, video, and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Moonshot Learning - Moonshot Learning
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): commoncore (75), computers (110), ethics (21), financial literacy (89), genetics (81)
In the Classroom
Use Moonshot Learning activities across the curriculum and to differentiate instruction based on student interest. Many of these activities are perfect for extension activities and for use with Gifted students. After completing activities found on this site have students create a multimedia presentation using Genial.ly, reviewed here. Genial.ly allows you to add polls, audio, videos, embeds, web links, PowerPoint, PDfs, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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