Differentiating Instruction to Meet the Needs of Academically Diverse Learners

Sarah Teschler, Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Studies, Boise State University

Abstract

Differentiated instruction has proven to be an important means of meeting the needs of all learners. Instruction may be differentiated by content, process, and/or product. This inquiry will survey teachers on how and why they differentiate instruction as well as gather information on the types of learners students perceive themselves to be. With information on learner styles, instruction may be differentiated in order to match instruction to learning style. This project will survey elementary teachers to gain insight into typical practices as well as look more in-depth at one class that engages in a differentiated unit after completing a survey about personal learner styles.