Hey there, teacher friends!
Question?
Have you ever tried to fit a square peg into a round hole? It doesn’t work, does it? The same goes for teaching – we can’t expect every student to fit into the same mould. That’s why differentiating instruction is crucial, especially for our students with special needs.
As a special education teacher, I’ve discovered that every student has their own unique needs and learning style. What works for one student might not work for another. That’s why I want to share some ideas for differentiation that have worked in my classroom.
Whether you’re a special education teacher or not, these strategies can be adapted to fit the needs of any student. My hope is that you’ll find some inspiration and ideas that you can use in your own classroom.
Understanding..
Did you know what it actually means to differentiate instruction?
It means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. There are various methods of differentiation – as teachers, we can differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, using ongoing assessment and flexible grouping for our students’ particular needs.
As a special education teacher, it’s not just a role but a duty to provide support and accommodations for the students we teach. This is crucial to their success. We all as teachers, even in a mainstream setting, understand that by laying foundations of differentiation in the classroom, everyone has the opportunity to engage with the learning.
Whether you’re a special education teacher or not, differentiation is key to ensuring that every student has the chance to learn and succeed in their own way. Here are some differentiation strategies that have worked in my special education classroom.
Strategies for Differentiating Instruction
Backwards mapping – Let’s talk about the technique of “backwards mapping”! This approach is really great for art projects in particular. This process allows students to visually see what they are trying to achieve. For instance, I might show them a painting I created, and then we as a class would break down the techniques in how to achieve this. This backward mapping approach visually shows students what is expected of them and gives them the opportunity to see the finished product before starting their own.
This technique makes the project more achievable and manageable for students, as they have a clear understanding of the steps they need to take to achieve their desired outcome ????. And the best part? Backwards mapping can be applied to other subject areas, too!
Modified Assignments – Assessments are an essential part of learning in school, but they don’t have to be one-size-fits-all!
Special education students have unique learning needs that may require modifications to assessments to better suit them. For example, writing a big essay might not work for some students, but adjusting the assessment format to a multiple-choice answer page could still show what the student has learned and help the teacher understand what may need to be revised. Modifying assessments can also include adjustments to the structure of the assessment, such as providing more time ⏰, simplified instructions, or using a different mode of communication.
Additionally, the content of the assessment itself may be modified to better align with the student’s abilities, such as by reducing the reading level or providing additional visual aids. These modifications help ensure that all students, including those with special needs, have a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities.
Multi-sensory Approaches
Let’s take a moment to talk about the amazing benefits of multisensory approaches in the classroom!
Multisensory approaches are teaching techniques that engage multiple senses to enhance student learning. By involving different senses, such as sight, sound, touch, and movement, your students can better understand, as it is characterised to their personal sensory stimuli.
Teaching isn’t just about speaking at the front of the class and hoping students will absorb the information. With multisensory techniques, we can engage our students’ senses and create a more immersive learning experience.
In my own classroom, I love using differentiated learning task cards to incorporate multisensory techniques. By giving students the option to choose multiple choice answers, write their own responses, or even use manipulatives like counters or pegs, I can cater to a variety of learning styles in one activity. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Click here if you would like to find out more about our Task Box Bundles for differentiated learning.
Individual learning plans
Individual learning plans (ILPs) are individualised educational plans designed to meet the unique needs, strengths, and interests of each student. A ILP is a written document that outlines specific learning goals, strategies, and accommodations tailored to a student’s learning style and needs.
It can include information such as academic strengths and weaknesses, learning preferences, and social/emotional needs.
The goal of a ILP is to help students take ownership of their learning and develop skills that will enable them to achieve their academic and personal goals. ILP’s outline the main differentiation points of each student and address the focused goals in how they will be performed.
I find ILP’s to be almost like the road maps into how we are going to get there for optimal learning environments for our students. The ILP is an ever changing – document that changes as the students’ needs and situations change. It Is not a ‘set and forget’ system, rather a fluid source of information.
Small group instruction
Small group instruction is an awesome teaching method that involves working with a small group of students, usually between 2-6. By keeping the group small, teachers can provide more individualised and targeted instruction, which can help students to better understand the material.
This approach is great because it allows the teacher to spend more 1:1 time with students, compared to a whole class of 30-40 where things can easily get overlooked.
We love doing small group instruction Daily Warm up sessions with either myself or our Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO) at a large U-shaped table, as it allows us to engage with our students in an optimal setting. Plus, the flexibility of the approach means that teachers can easily move around to provide support where it’s needed most. This allows us to work with the student and do emotional check-in in the mornings.
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I hope this blog post has provided you with practical strategies for differentiating instruction for your students.
It’s important to recognize the benefits of differentiated instruction and to have the tools to create an inclusive and effective classroom environment for all learners. By implementing these strategies, you can better engage your students and meet their individual needs.
Thank You! ❤️
Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students.
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