Differentiated instruction focuses on the students and places them at the center of learning. Traditional classrooms focused on the teacher and did not account for the various learning styles of students. Although not all schools use differentiated learning as the structure of their program, more curriculums are becoming aware of the benefits to teaching this way and being able to reach out to all students so that they can learn efficiently, despite their individual abilities.

Advantages to Differentiated Learning

The biggest advantage to differentiated learning is that it connects with all students and provides a number of avenues to understanding the material. When teachers present the material and don’t cater to the individual needs of each student, many children become lost in the lesson. This can be especially damaging to the subject of math, as each concept builds on another. With differentiated learning, students are able to grasp the concepts in a way that is best understood using their abilities. They won’t fall behind or experience the snowball effect, and they will have the necessary confidence to continue building on their skills.

If students do start to become lost in the material, differentiated instruction allows for learning aids and tools to be implemented into the curriculum to keep students on track. These learning aids, with a specific focus on virtual manipulatives, can be integrated into any classroom and serve as powerful learning tools. In the form of online games and puzzles, the virtual manipulatives are fun and engaging for young minds and allow educators to track the progress of each student.

Learning Aids in Differentiated Learning

Learning aids hold much importance in differentiated instruction, as they’re necessary for providing different avenues for children to learn. Since the lessons are focused on the students, it’s important for educators to provide virtual manipulatives that strengthen a range of skills and abilities. Online games and puzzles that are part of an adaptive learning program are ideal and require no software to download. Students can begin playing the games immediately and work independently or in small groups. » Read more: The Benefits to Using Differentiated Instruction in the Elementary Classroom

Math is a challenging subject, but one that is necessary for everyday applications. Whether it’s counting out money, using basic arithmetic or recognizing sequences, math concepts are constantly being used. When math is introduced in the elementary curriculum, some students become overwhelmed with basic addition and subtraction. If these basic building blocks are not fully understood, students will continue to have difficulties in math. Fortunately, there’s no need to let this happen to your students. With an elementary math intervention program, educators and parents can step in and offer the necessary support to get kids back on track.

Understanding Response to Intervention

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach to intervention. It is based on three different tiers with increasing levels of difficulty. The services provided within RTI are tailored toward the needs of each individual student instead of focusing on a large-scale approach.

Tier 1 is the base level, which the majority of students receive. It also makes up the largest level and one that will be overcome easily by students with minor struggles. Since there is so much differentiation between students, it’s important to offer much flexibility in this tier.

Tier 2 is for a smaller group of students that require additional interventions. The interventions in this tier are expanded lessons from the first tier and commonly referred to as strategic or supplemental.

Tier 3 is the smallest group and represents those students who need more intensive interventions. These students are those that are at risk for failing and have demonstrated low performance on testing and instructional proficiency.

Actions, Not Classifications

When students start to fall behind, they often become embarrassed and frustrated. The three tiers within RTI are not meant to classify students but serve as actions. For example, a student in Tier 2 is not recognized as a “Tier 2 student” but instead is receiving intervention at the Tier 2 level. The tiers leave room for differentiated lessons and track the progress of each child so that educators can watch for the students that progress quickly with little intervention, while focusing on the students that require more demanding interventions. » Read more: The Importance of Implementing an Elementary Math Intervention Program for Struggling Students