ABSTRACT
True differentiation provides multiple pathways and support systems to the same content goals. Effective differentiated assessment means that teacher’s customize their assessment to best meet the needs of every student. Tiering is differentiating instruction and assessment up and down to meet the challenge level of the students. The minimum tiering goal is three tiers: a standard tier, one above that, and one below that. Although teachers use strong pre-assessments to determine the best learning levels for their students, it is helpful to ask students to self-assess their progress during the assignment or assessment. A common assessment challenge when differentiating for students with special needs is grading. Thomas Guskey, in Practical Solutions for Serious Problems in Standards-Based Grading, suggests some categories that allows teachers to customize a grading system to meet individual needs in a standards-based system. Teachers may consider how to grade students with special needs and those who are gifted.
