Differentiated Instruction Programs

Differentiated Instruction (DI) affords the opportunity to meet all students at their correct level of difficulty by implementing assessment driven, responsive, and engaging pedagogy as an everyday teaching practice.  It enables a teacher to drastically increase the level of equity in the classroom because it is built on the understanding that fair is not equal where all students getting the same, but instead, each student getting what he or she needs to learn.  The reality of DI is that it requires a highly skilled and well-trained teacher and mastering it takes time, support, efficacy, energy and, in most cases, a shift in mindset. Guiding a staff through this or any complex instructional change takes a strong leader, one who understands the theory, research, and practical strategies needed to successfully implement complex change in his or her school. Pillars of this instructional change include enhancing teachers’ ability to:

• Increase instructional acuity—knowing when and how to differentiate
• Integrate ongoing formative assessment to drive instruction
• Develop a well-stocked strategy toolbox to engage learners when “some students get it and some do not”
• Manage a variety of divergent instructional settings