From: K8 Access Center http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/mathdifferentiation.asp
Strategy | Focus of Differentiation | Definition | Example |
Tiered assignments |
Readiness |
Tiered assignments are designed to instruct students on essential skills that are provided at different levels of complexity, abstractness, and open-endedness. The curricular content and objective(s) are the same, but the process and/or product are varied according to the student’s level of readiness. |
In a unit on measurement, some students are taught basic measurement skills, including using a ruler to measure the length of objects. Other students can apply measurement skills to problems involving perimeter. |
Compacting |
Readiness |
Compacting is the process of adjusting instruction to account for prior student mastery of learning objectives. Compacting involves a three-step process: (1) assess the student to determine his/her level of knowledge on the material to be studied and determine what he/she still needs to master; (2) create plans for what the student needs to know, and excuse the student from studying what he/she already knows; and (3) create plans for freed-up time to be spent in enriched or accelerated study. |
A third grade class is learning to identify the parts of fractions. Diagnostics indicate that two students already know the parts of fractions. These students are excused from completing the identifying activities, and are taught to add and subtract fractions. |
Interest Centers or Interest Groups |
Readiness Interest |
Interest centers (usually used with younger students) and interest groups (usually used with older students) are set up so that learning experiences are directed toward a specific learner interest. Allowing students to choose a topic can be motivating to them. |
Interest Centers - Centers can focus on specific math skills, such as addition, and provide activities that are high interest, such as counting jelly beans or adding the number of eyes on two aliens. Interest Groups - Students can work in small groups to research a math topic of interest, such as how geometry applies to architecture or how math is used in art. |
Flexible Grouping |
Readiness Interest Learning Profile |
Students work as part of many different groups depending on the task and/or content. Sometimes students are placed in groups based on readiness, other times they are placed based on interest and/or learning profile. Groups can either be assigned by the teacher or chosen by the students. Students can be assigned purposefully to a group or assigned randomly. This strategy allows students to work with a wide variety of peers and keeps them from being labeled as advanced or struggling. |
The teacher may assign groups based on readiness for direct instruction on algebraic concepts, and allow students to choose their own groups for projects that investigate famous mathematicians. |
Learning Contracts |
Readiness Learning Profile |
Learning contracts begin with an agreement between the teacher and the student. The teacher specifies the necessary skills expected to be learned by the student and the required components of the assignment, while the student identifies methods for completing the tasks. This strategy (1) allows students to work at an appropriate pace; (2) can target learning styles; and (3) helps students work independently, learn planning skills, and eliminate unnecessary skill practice. |
A student decides to follow a football team over a two-month period and make inferences about players’ performances based on their scoring patterns and physical characteristics. The student, with the teacher’s guidance, develops a plan for collecting and analyzing the data and conducting research about football. The student decides to create a PowerPoint presentation to present his or her findings to the class. |
Choice Boards |
Readiness Interest Learning Profile |
Choice boards are organizers that contain a variety of activities. Students can choose one or several activities to complete as they learn a skill or develop a product. Choice boards can be organized so that students are required to choose options that focus on several different skills. |
Students are given a choice board that contains a list of possible activities they can complete to learn about volume. For example, students can choose to complete an inquiry lesson where they measure volume using various containers, use a textbook to read about measuring volume, or watch a video in which the steps are explained. The activities are based on the following learning styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile. Students must complete two activities from the board and must choose these activities from two different learning styles. |