Differentiation is classroom practice that looks eyeball to eyeball with the reality that kids differ, and the most effective teachers do whatever it takes to hook the whole range of kids on learning.
Carol Ann TomlinsonRead
Differentiation is simply a teacher attending to the learning needs of a particular student or small groups of students, rather than teaching a class as though all individuals in it were basically alike.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Differentiation in teaching involves tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs of students.
This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the unique learning needs of each student rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach in education. By focusing on individual differences, teachers can create more effective and engaging learning experiences that better support student success.
Themes
DifferentiationEducationTeachingLearningStudents
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote to advocate for personalized learning plans in a staff meeting.
More from Carol Ann Tomlinson
All quotes →A teacher in a differentiated classroom does not classify herself as someone who ‘already differentiates instruction.’ Rather that teacher is fully aware that every hour of teaching, every day in the classroom can reveal one more way to make the classroom a better match for its learners.
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