What is differentiated instruction?

By APTTI Educational Content · Updated 5 October 2026 · 2 min read

What this means in practice

Differentiation does not mean writing a separate lesson for every child. It means building flexible options into one lesson.

Ways to differentiate

• Content: different texts or examples at varied levels.
• Process: pairs, small groups, hands-on materials.
• Product: written, oral, drawn or digital responses.
• Environment: seating, quiet spaces and timing.
• Support: prompts, worked examples, word banks.

Keeping goals high

Keep the core learning goal the same where possible and change the route to it, so children with special needs are not given only easier work.

Quick differentiation tools

Start small: one adapted task per lesson is enough to begin.

• Word banks and sentence starters for writing tasks.
• Worked examples placed beside practice questions.
• Graphic organisers for planning and note-taking.
• Tiered question sets at three levels of challenge.
• Choice boards that let students pick how to show learning.
• Audio or video versions of key texts.
• Highlighted key words in instructions.

Practical next steps

1. Define the core goal of the lesson.
2. Plan two or three levels of support.
3. Offer at least one choice in how students respond.
4. Check understanding during the lesson.

What to keep in mind

Differentiation should be flexible; avoid fixing children permanently in low groups.

Common follow-up questions

Is differentiation the same as an IEP?

No. Differentiation is for the whole class; an IEP is an individual plan.

Does differentiation take a lot of time?

It becomes quicker with reusable templates and resources.

Sources

• CAST: Universal Design for Learning guidelines
• EEF: Special educational needs in mainstream schools
• IRIS Center, Vanderbilt University: special education modules

Sources inform the explanation; examples are educational illustrations, not individual clinical advice. How these answers are prepared.