What Is Differentiated Instruction?

Differentiated instruction is the practice of adjusting what students learn (content), how they learn it (process), how they show learning (product), and the learning environment — so students with different needs can all reach the same standard.

In plain language

Instead of one assignment for 28 students, differentiation plans multiple paths to the same destination up front. It's proactive, not reactive — and in special education it's often the difference between a student who can access the lesson and one who can't.

Classroom example

A science class studies food webs. Some students use the grade-level text; a foundation tier offers simplified language and a glossary; an advanced tier asks students to design their own. Sentence starters support written answers for everyone. That's exactly what Spark's Diffy engine generates in a few minutes.

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