How to Differentiate Any Lesson (Without Three Hours of Planning)
Differentiation is a process, not a talent. Four steps that turn any assignment into three supported versions — in minutes, not evenings.
Step 1: Find the core
Write down what every student must be able to do when the lesson ends — the irreducible skill or concept. "Summarize the causes of the Revolutionary War" has a core; "complete the worksheet" doesn't. The core is what stays identical across every version you create.
Step 2: Name the barriers
- Reading level: is the text the barrier, or the thinking?
- Language: do they need vocabulary support more than easier content?
- Stamina and steps: can they do it in one sitting, or does it need chunking?
- Output: is the barrier the idea, or the handwriting?
Step 3: Build three versions
- Foundation: same core, simplified language, shorter text, visual supports, chunked steps
- On-grade: the assignment as written, with optional scaffolds available
- Advanced: same core, extended application — deeper questions, not just more of them
Step 4: Add universal scaffolds
- A short vocabulary preview for everyone — ELL students aren't the only ones who benefit
- Sentence starters for the response, available to all
- One worked example at each level so expectations are visible
Keep review time short
Differentiation fails at the review step: output you don't check within a minute drifts. Give each version a quick check question the answer reveals instantly, and scan those first. If you're using AI tools like Diffy to generate the versions, the review is reading three short documents, not building them — the step that protects quality and the step that saves the evening.
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