Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction for Advanced Learning in the Regular Classroom

By differentiating instruction within the regular classroom, teachers provide all students with various ways to develop their talents. Students who need more advanced opportunities are able to find these options within a differentiated classroom. They are likely to feel more challenged, to encounter both success and growth, to be called upon to develop higher level study and production skills, and to be able to develop their particular interests and talents.

Effective differentiation directly supports the learning needs of advanced students through activities that simulate real world problems, address multiple perspectives, and result in the development and sharing of a variety of authentic products. Differentiation creates engaging and challenging instruction that is:

• inquiry based


• open ended


• multi-faceted


• concept centered


• interdisciplinary


• interest based


• student selected

This information came from this website: www.ascps.org/aacps/boe/instr/CURR/tag/gt/gt2.html

Excellent resources from Carol Tomlinson:

Tomlinson, C. (1998) How can gifted students' needs be met in mixed-ability classrooms? Washington DC: National Association of Gifted Children.

Tomlinson, C. (2001) How to differentiate instruction in mixed ability classrooms. VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Department

Tomlinson, C. (1999). The differentiated classroom: responding to the needs of all learners. VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Winebrenner, S (2001). Teaching gifted kids in the regular classroom. MN. Free Spirit Press.