The fact that students differ may be inconvenient, but it is inescapable. Adapting to that diversity is the inevitable price of productivity, high standards, and fairness to kids.
– Theodore Sizer
Differentiation is… | Differentiation is not… | |
Different work | More work | |
Deeper or broader assignments | Longer assignments | |
Tiered assignments | Extra assignments | |
High expectations for all students | Individualization | |
Structured choices for students | Always teacher-assigned | |
Rote tasks and memorization | High-level thinking | |
Instruction in needed skills | Self-help or peer tutoring | |
Appropriately challenging | Pushing to the limits | |
Respectful, meaningful work | Keeping students occupied | |
Flexible grouping based on pretesting | Static ability groups | |
Demonstrating mastery | Assuming understanding | |
Moving at their own pace | Waiting until the group is ready to move on | |
Varied strategies, approaches, and adaptations | The same differentiation strategy all the time | |
Giving credit for mastered content | Having the same grades for every student | |
Supporting and scaffolding for all students | Focusing attention on the struggling students | |
Fair | Equal |