Differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that adjusts how students learn, practice, show understanding, or receive support. The goal is not to make separate lessons for every student, but to make the learning reachable in more than one way.
What teachers can differentiate
Teachers may adjust content, process, product, pacing, grouping, examples, reading level, tools, or feedback. A student who needs more structure may get scaffolding, while another may get an extension task.
Why it matters
Students do not all enter a lesson with the same background, language, confidence, or skill level. Differentiation pairs well with formative assessment because teachers need evidence before adjusting support.
Done well, differentiation protects rigor while giving learners different routes toward success.