Question: In my daughter's seventh-grade social-studies class, the teacher is using something called "differentiated instruction." All I really know about it is that the assignments are not the same for everyone. Is this fair? - Baffled
Answer: A typical seventh-grade social-studies classroom includes a range of students, from those who can barely read to those who read at the college level, with most falling somewhere in between. Plus, the students' primary interests will lie in areas from sports to music, and some will work best alone while others will be more successful working in groups. A one-size-fits-all model of instruction is not going to meet the needs of most seventh-graders.
Differentiated instruction offers a variety of learning options based on different readiness levels, interests and learning profiles. By using different materials, computer programs, learning contracts and other instructional strategies, teachers help all the students find a good learning "fit."