Every student is unique, with different backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. To meet these different needs, it’s important to use a variety of teaching strategies, materials, and activities. The following is a list of possible activities and strategies you could use in a future classroom to help meet learners differences.
- Incorporate visual, auditory, and hands-on teaching methods.
- Offer choices for certain assignments.
- Adapt content for different skill levels.
- Create an inclusive environment, highlighting every students success.
By planning lessons with diversity and equity in mind, teachers can create a classroom based on success for every student.
Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated Instruction has the same goal of meeting learners’ differences. Both of them refer to the practice of tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs, interests, and learning styles of individual students. This video will help you understand more in-depth how to meet the needs of individual students through instruction.
Ideas for adapting lesson plans based on specific learner differences
English Language Learners
- Provide Visual Aides (pictures, charts, diagrams)
- Pairing English Language Learners with peers
- Use Technology Tools (translation apps/language learning software)
- Provide Bilingual Resources
- Encourage the Use of their Native Language
- Teach Key Phrases and Academic Vocabulary
- Project Based Learning
- Small Group Discussions
- Offer Regular Check Ins
Gifted and talented students
- Provide Enrichment Activities (advanced readings, extended problems)
- Encourage Independent Research Projects
- Use Tiered Assignments to Challenge Higher-Level Thinking
- Incorporate Open-Ended Questions and Creative Tasks
- Offer Leadership Opportunities (group leader, mentor roles)
- Introduce Real-World Connections and Applications
- Utilize Flexible Grouping for Peer Collaboration
- Allow Student Choice in Product or Process
- Encourage Cross-Curricular Connections
- Provide Acceleration Options (compact curriculum, skip practice)
ADHD
- Lessons that provide opportunities for movement.
- Using technology to assist with task
- Extra time on test or assignments
- Pairing students with a peer who can help with note taking or completing assignments
- Reduce the number of questions or amount of work
- Use or outlines or organizers
- Use of text to speech or have assignments or test read to them
- Option of paper test or worksheet instead of on the computer
- Chunking assignments into smaller tasks
- 30-Great-Accommodations ADHD.pdf Download 30-Great-Accommodations ADHD.pdf
Gifted Learners Who Get Bored
Compact the curriculum: Pre-assess and let students skip material they’ve already mastered, replacing it with enrichment or deeper learning tasks. Offer independent research projects: Let students choose a topic related to the unit and dive deeper, then share their findings with the class.
Students with Visual Impairments
Provide tactile or braille materials: Use raised-line drawings, braille texts, or 3D models to support access to content. Use screen readers and audio descriptions: Ensure all digital materials are compatible with assistive tech, and describe visuals verbally.
English Language Learners (ELLs)
Use sentence frames and word banks: These support both oral and written responses, helping students focus on content while building language. Pair with a peer for modeling: Strategically partner ELLs with classmates who can model academic language and classroom routines.
Students with ADHD
Incorporate frequent movement breaks: Use quick brain breaks or let them stand/stretch while working to increase focus. Provide visual checklists for tasks: Helps them stay on track and reduces overwhelm with multi-step directions.
Students with Autism
Visual supports: Allow students to see plans, examples, graphic organizers. Hands-On and Multisensory: Allows students to fidget with manipulates, tactile learning, incorporate sensory strategies to prevent overstimulation.