DIFFERENTIATION STRATEGIES
Creating multiple paths so that students of different abilities, interests or learning styles experience equally appropriate ways to absorb, use, and apply concepts.
- Allowing students to listen to story online
- Providing extension opportunities
- Guided reading groups
- Varying sets of reading comprehension questions to answer for a given book (either chosen by the teacher or student).
- A personalized course packet with individualized remediation or enrichment materials.
- An adaptive assessment that gets easier or harder depending on how a student is performing.
- One-on-one coaching with a student, designed around his/her specific challenges.
- Students grouped into small groups, which are designed around their strengths and weaknesses so that they can tutor each other
- Rubrics
- Genius Hour
- Mini-lessons
- Graphic Organizers
- Curriculum Mapping
- Inquiry Based Learning
- Project based learning
- Choice Board
MODIFICATIONS
Changes in the curricular or behavioral expectations that are appropriate for a particular student’s needs or abilities. The standard or expectation DOES change.
BEHAVIORAL
- Breaks between tasks
- Cue expected behavior
- Daily feedback to student
- Have contingency plans
- Use de-escalating strategies
- Use positive reinforcement
- Use proximity/touch control
- Use peer supports and mentoring
- Model expected behavior by adults
- Have parent sign homework
- Have parent sign behavior chart
- Set and post class rules
- Chart progress and maintain data
ACADEMIC
- Change in amount of work required
- Change in expectation of work
- Shortened spelling list
- Allow outlining, instead of writing for an essay or major project
- Use of alternative books or materials on the topic being studied
- Computerized spell-check support
- Word bank of choices for answers to test questions
- Provision of calculator and/or number line for math tests
- Film or video supplements in place of reading text
- Reworded questions in simpler language
- Projects instead of written reports
- Highlighting important words or phrases in reading assignments
- Modified workload or length of assignments/tests
- Modified time demands
- Pass/no pass option
ACCOMODATIONS
Changes in the environment that assist a student in meeting a standard or expectation. The standard or expectation DOES NOT change.
- Taking a test in another room
- Completion of work one-on one with assistance
- Preferential sitting
- Textbooks for at-home use
- Additional time for assignments
- Review of directions
- Review sessions
- Provision of notes or outlines
- Concrete examples
- Use of a study carrel
- Assistance in maintaining uncluttered space
- Audio Books
- Graphic organizers
- Graph paper to assist in organizing or lining up math problems
- Use of computers/calculators
- Quiet corner or room to calm down and relax when anxious
- Use of manipulatives
- No penalty for spelling errors or sloppy handwriting
- Teach time management skills
- Rest breaks
- Verbal and visual cues regarding directions and staying on task
- Agenda book and checklists
- Daily check-in
- Adjusted assignment timelines
- Visual daily schedule
- Varied reinforcement procedures
- Immediate feedback
- Work-in-progress check
- Weekly home-school communication tools (notebook, daily log, phone calls or email messages)
- Preferential seating
- Reduction of distractions
- Answers to be dictated
- Hands-on activities
- Peer or scribe note-taking
- Space for movement or breaks
- Study sheets and teacher outlines
- Extra visual and verbal cues and prompts
- Lab and math sheets with highlighted instructions
- Writing on a slanted surface
- Highlighted paper