Differentiated Curriculum

Challenge Every Learner

Every Learner Is Unique

Most curricula provide parents with a standard format for teaching their child. They assume that all children in a grade level have the same educational needs and that they will do the same activities in the same way.

Even though children may be the same age, they are often not on the same academic or intellectual level. For example, many five-year olds may just be learning to recognize their letters while others are reading at a second grade level. Because of these academic and intellectual differences, children cannot be taught the same curriculum in the same way at the same time. Furthermore, it is common for gifted students to be advanced in one or two subject areas but not in all subjects. Curriculum differentiation is intended to address these problems. A curriculum that is differentiated will meet the needs of all learners by providing the appropriate level of challenge. This allows all children to achieve success and growth.

Meeting Learners Needs

When a curriculum is differentiated, it helps you, as a teacher, to appropriately respond to these variances among learners. When parents and teachers are able to teach ideas and skills on different levels they can better meet the needs of individual learners.

Moving Beyond the Page is a differentiated curriculum. Many of the activities allow you to assess your child's readiness and provide different options to challenge and develop their learning. Consider two six-year old children. They both are able to discuss complex ideas and think at higher levels, but only one has been exposed to writing letters and has developed the fine motor skills needed to excel at writing. The Moving Beyond the Page 5-7 Year Old curriculum will challenge and engage both advanced and emergent writers and readers. A differentiated curriculum enables educators to challenge all children to meet their potential.

< previous | next >