Differentiated Instruction Articles & Resources for Teachers

Teacher working with students in a classroom

Differentiated Instruction Resources

Differentiation, or tailoring classroom instruction, can help meet your students' diverse needs when delivered effectively. There are many reasons students might learn at a different pace, including socioeconomics, home life, physical and mental development, or other factors that impact learning. Finding new strategies to reach all of your students will help them to make progress in their learning goals.

Differentiation allows for you to give an individualized approach in the classroom despite classroom size and there are many ways to make it engaging, fun, and successful. Read the differentiated instruction articles below to find new strategies to implement in your classroom.

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The Benefits of Differentiation in the Classroom

Learn the benefits of differentiated instruction to meet the learning needs of all students.

Charles Sisson
Education Consultant
December 16, 2022
Why Is Differentiated Instruction Important in the Classroom?

Find out the answer to the question, “Why is differentiated instruction important?” Plus, receive tips on differentiation from an educator.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor
May 06, 2022
How to Use Technology to Differentiate Instruction in the Classroom

Explore the challenges of differentiated instruction and how technology can help. Using technology to differentiate instruction assists in automating the process.

Kathleen Richards
Former HMH Senior Learning Scientist, ELA and Humanities
September 25, 2019

Reading and Writing

5 Strategies for Differentiated Reading Instruction

Check out the latest differentiated reading strategies to help you meet your students' diverse needs.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor
January 05, 2022
3 Strategies for Small-Group Reading Instruction

Get tips from literacy expert JillE on small-group reading instruction, which allows for a more intimate setting and enables teachers to observe students more closely.

Jill Eggleton, QSO
International Literacy Consultant and Children’s Book Author; Author and Advisor, Into Reading
June 24, 2021
Structuring the Literacy Block

The most productive literacy block schedules include various reading and writing activities and instruction to help build foundational skills.

Francie Alexander
Chief Research Officer, HMH

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core Literacy & Early Learning

Dr. Terry Salinger
Institute Fellow and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research, American Institutes for Research
October 04, 2021
Conferring Is Differentiated Instruction: How to Hold Student Writing Conferences

Writing conferences are one-to-one conversations and give teachers a crucial opportunity to meet each student’s individual needs.

Carl Anderson
Author and Literacy Consultant
July 22, 2019
Differentiation: Matching Supports for Students' Literacy Needs

Reading instruction that meets the individual needs of students should be the focus in each and every one of our classrooms.

Amy Dendinger
READ 180 Classroom Teacher & Expert
March 08, 2019

Math

7 Strategies for Differentiated Math Instruction

How do you make sure math learning is tailored to each of your students? Try these 7 strategies to differentiate math instruction in your classroom.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor
August 29, 2022
6 Differentiated Instructional Strategies for Middle School Math

Try these strategies in your middle school math classroom to ensure that all students progress in their mathematical development.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor
February 18, 2022
What Is Scaffolding in Math?

Scaffolding learning comprises many techniques that allow you to provide extra support to your students and help them bridge learning gaps.

Shaped Staff
June 13, 2022
7 Math Small-Group Instructional Strategies

Try these strategies out to optimize your small group instruction time in the math classroom.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor
December 10, 2021
Getting Into Math: Facilitating Small-Group Student Discourse

Timothy D. Kanold highlights the importance of small-group student discourse in the math classroom, with details on formative and differentiated student learning.

Dr. Timothy D. Kanold
International Educator, Author, and Consultant; Mathematics Education
January 14, 2019

More Resources

Differentiated Instruction for ELL Students

Help prepare ELL students with support resources that benefit your multilingual learners.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Staff
June 03, 2022
6 Ways to Deliver Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Students

Discover six strategies to deliver differentiated instruction for gifted students.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor
May 03, 2022
Using Choice Boards for Students to Differentiate Instruction

Try creating choice boards for students. These activity menus are a great way to differentiate learning, which can increase student engagement and improve academic outcomes.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor
December 19, 2022
Understanding UDL vs Differentiated Instruction

Learn why teachers should use materials made with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in mind, and apply differentiated instruction methods.

Dr. Phil Vahey
Director of Applied Learning Sciences, HMH

Claire Benedikt
Principal UX Designer, Accessibility & Inclusive Design, HMH
September 23, 2022
How Differentiated Instruction Transformed a Charter School

Learn how Peak Charter Academy in North Carolina prioritized differentiation in the classroom, even when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S.

Steve Pond
Principal, Peak Charter Academy, North Carolina
April 07, 2021
Podcast: How to Differentiate Instruction Through Rhymes and Raps with Toney Jackson in NJ on Teachers in America

Fourth grade teacher MC and poet Toney Jackson shares differentiation tips and tricks, like incorporating rhymes and raps to reach all students.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor
January 31, 2023