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Has differentiated instruction been proven to close the achievement gap between low and high performing students?

Ogden Vale

Oh boy, do I have some exciting news to share about differentiated instruction! This magical teaching method has been proving time and time again to close the achievement gap between low and high performing students.

But first, let me break down what differentiated instruction actually means. Essentially, it’s a teaching approach that caters to each individual student’s learning needs and styles. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, teachers create lesson plans that can be adjusted to suit the different abilities and strengths of each student.

Now, back to the juicy stuff. There have been countless studies that have shown the effectiveness of differentiated instruction in closing the achievement gap. One study by the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum found that students who received differentiated instruction made significant gains in reading comprehension and math problem-solving skills.

Another study by the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities found that students with learning disabilities who were taught using differentiated instruction showed improvements in academic performance compared to those who received traditional instruction.

But why does differentiated instruction work so well? Well, it’s because it allows teachers to meet the unique needs of each student. For example, if a student is struggling with reading comprehension, a teacher can provide them with texts at their reading level or with more visual aids to help them understand the material.

Furthermore, differentiated instruction promotes a growth mindset in students. By catering to each student’s strengths, students are able to build confidence in their abilities and feel more capable of achieving success academically.

Overall, the evidence speaks for itself – differentiated instruction is a powerful tool in helping to close the achievement gap between low and high performing students. So the next time you hear someone ask if it really works, you can confidently say “you betcha it does!”