ABSTRACT
To meet the needs of diverse learners in the classroom, teachers must learn to differentiate classroom instruction and tasks depending on the needs and abilities of the specific student. This chapter presents a strategy for instructional differentiation built on careful planning and anticipation of student challenges. Teachers should analyze the curriculum, noting any prerequisite skills, before planning instruction. Tasks should include flexibility to meet the needs of different learners. The text presents and describes examples of this flexibility. For students with IEPs, the need for differentiation can often be connected with specific cognitive abilities. Teachers should consider the impact of these cognitive abilities on students’ math performance.
