In all classrooms, teachers deal with at least three curricular elements: (1) content - input, what students learn; (2) process - how students go about making sense of ideas and information, and (3) product - output, how students demonstrate what they have learned." (Tomlinson, 2001, p. 4) Understanding these concepts on a macro level enables teachers to see the concepts that must be addressed. Additional techniques and approaches that are helpful in implementing a differentiated curriculum are included in Table 1.

Curricular element

Standards

Differentiation considerations

Content standards

Performance standards

Opportunity to learn

Specific benchmarks should be reviewed and adapted as necessary

Identify optimum levels of proficiency necessary to master content

Ensure that adequate materials and hands-on activities exist to support content

Instructional strategies

Content standards

Performance standards

Opportunity to learn

Identify strategies that facilitate mastery and generalization of content

Consider compatibility between teaching and learning styles used

Ensure that...
[ View Full Essay]