What Is Differentiation?

Differentiation is one of those fancy terms that we teachers like to throw around when we speak to one another, other therapists, at meetings, etc. But what, exactly, does it mean? It has the word different in it. That's gotta mean something, right? Absolutely! What differentiation primarily comes down to is the creation of different types of activities or tasks or different ways to accomplish those activities or tasks depending on the different skill levels or different needs of the children for whom it is being created.

Differentiation should not be an exclusively "special education thing" or "inclusive class thing" either. We should see differentiation going on in each and every classroom that we observe. That's because every child is an individual and every child benefits from learning and activities being tailored to their particular strengths and needs.

So, if your kiddo is struggling in school, set some time aside to have a chat with the teacher about why this may be the case, what is currently being done to meet the needs of your child, and what can be done going forward. Keep in mind that differentiation works because it is done in a way that is both helpful to each child as well as reasonable within the classroom as a whole. The plan that you and your child's teacher come up with should be something that fits that criteria. If it doesn't, just keep on brainstorming - there is always a way to work it so that the children win, and the teacher goes home feeling more successful than burned out.