The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners

by Carol Ann Tomlinson

Although much has changed in schools in recent years, the power of differentiated instruction remains the same—and the need for it has only increased.

Today’s classroom is more diverse, more inclusive, and more plugged into technology than ever before. And it’s led by teachers under enormous pressure to help decidedly unstandardized students meet an expanding set of rigorous, standardized learning targets. In this updated second edition of her best-selling classic work, Carol Ann Tomlinson offers these teachers a powerful and practical way to meet a challenge that is both very modern and completely how to divide their time, resources, and efforts to effectively instruct so many students of various backgrounds, readiness and skill levels, and interests.

With a perspective informed by advances in research and deepened by more than 15 years of implementation feedback in all types of schools, Tomlinson explains the theoretical basis of differentiated instruction, explores the variables of curriculum and learning environment, shares dozens of instructional strategies, and then goes inside elementary and secondary classrooms in nearly all subject areas to illustrate how real teachers are applying differentiation principles and strategies to respond to the needs of all learners.

This book’s insightful guidance on what to differentiate, how to differentiate, and why lays the groundwork for bringing differentiated instruction into your own classroom or refining the work you already do to help each of your wonderfully unique learners move toward greater knowledge, more advanced skills, and expanded understanding. Today more than ever, The Differentiated Classroom is a must-have staple for every teacher’s shelf and every school’s professional development collection.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, Nonfiction, School, Grad School, Reference

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Kristina Harrison]

I had such high hopes for this book since Tomlinson is amazing, but I don't feel that I gained much from _The Differentiated Classroom_. Though it is broken up with occasional comments implying that teacher shortcomings are almost always the cause of student apathy and misbehavior, the majority of the book alternates between pushing (again and again and again) why differentiation matters and expounding highly specific examples of its application. The nonstop selling is redundant since anyone reading this book likely already knows that differentiation is important, and the minutia of teachers' lessons is both tedious and unhelpful since there is only minimal explanation of the concepts behind the strategies. Sure, readers _could_ deconstruct how Mr. Matheson teaches fractions to his 6th graders, glean what's important outside of that single scenario, and reconstruct why certain elements are effective. Or Tomlinson could have saved us the trouble of playing the world's most unnecessary game of What Am I? and presented research and brief examples directly so teachers could focus on applying the concepts in their own content and classes. For me, this book was too lengthy for introductory material and too shallow for meaningful learning beyond that point.

[Nor]

(for school)

Infantile approach to gender and ridiculously dismissive section about how the imaginations of kids today are “less active.” Hello???? How can someone write a book about being respectful of all learners and then casually make obtuse, lazy generational generalizations like that? Have you ever seen what kids can make on Minecraft? Bye.

[Stacey]

I wish I had known about this book sooner. I'll never go back to teaching without differentiating the interest, curriculum, or medium again. There are so many good ideas on how to use contracts and menues as well as changing the format of lessons for your students with different learning styles. This book is so necessary in todays American classroom where your learners come from a variety of backgrounds and learning situations.

[Giovanna]

A very useful book for teachers that want but dont know how to attend diversity in the classroom. Tomlinson offers plenty of real experiences that illustrate how other teachers were able to think out of the box to make the best of their students capacities.

[Cherith]

This book is overwhelming at first, even for someone who uses differentiation in her classroom, but it quickly becomes both inspiring and practical. It is among the best books I've ever read for teachers and I highly recommend it.

[Alexander]

Good Informatuon

I have always believed certain things about differentiated teaching, but it becomes more and more clear this term just means you are adaptable and a good teacher! Some useful information for my course on tech and assistive tech was read in this text.

[Sky Hull]

Differentiation can be really hard to wrap your mind around with all the different strats and ideas flowing around it. This book makes it clear and easy to get without feeling like you’re taking on a burden when differentiating. Every educator should have this on their shelves.

[Douglass Gaking]

While this 1999-2000 edition is a little dated today, it provides useful models, instructional strategies, and examples for teachers to think about and improve differentiation of instruction. The central model connects levels of learning and elements of curriculum. The topic of study is made up of key facts, organizing concepts, guiding principles, associated attitudes, and essential skills. Teachers must include all those components and differentiate the content, process, and product according to students' readiness, interests, and learning profile. This is a great way to think about differentiation, then instructional strategies–whether from this book or elsewhere–can be utilized within the model to effectively meet diverse students' needs. This is definitely worth a read for teachers at all grade levels in all content areas.

[AndreaLectora]

Interesante, aunque no de los que más me han aportado.

Sí que creo en lo que explica en el libro, el diversificar tus clases, adaptarte a los distintos niveles, pero algo en la manera que está planteado no me ha convencido. Hay bastantes ejemplos, de distintas materias, pero es tan diferente a como enfoco mis clases que me ha costado encontrar elementos que incorporar este curso.

Ahora sí, leeré algunas de sus recomendaciones bibliográficas, a ver si conecto mejor.

Hay una traducción al castellano, por si a alguien le interesa.

[Angie Hull]

Tomlinson's updated text provides fantastic information regarding differentiated instruction. It provides ways to differentiate in ways that I haven't considered. It provides a lot of research backing differentiation and strategies of differentiation that can easily be applied to the workshop classroom. Very current and informative research, well thought out text, and easy to read!

[Russell Johnson]

It is more of the same really. If your new to teaching it is a good book, but we have differentiation shoved at us. It is more difficult in practice than in theory. Especially when you have 150 with low level reading

[Patrik Bystrom]

This was definitely a book that would have been easier to read in hard POG rather than on a screen. It is pragmatic and logical in it structure, but with all the tables and examples it is hard to get into on a small phone screen.

[Seth the Zest]

I read this between greeting students in the morning at my school. A few pages at a time helped me to slow down and absorb more. My copy was copyright 2014, so a little aged.

This book helped through lots of examples. It also provided techniques and bits of wisdom throughout.

[Cecilia]

Book for school. I really enjoyed the concept of differentiation! This book, however, was very much focused on traditional classroom instruction, so not super relevant for my role.

(Read as an online textbook).

[Claudette]

(Audiobook) I didn’t realise this book is so old. There are a lot of strategies that can be used in the classroom toady. However, realistically how much time do teachers have to differentiate everything in the classroom.

[Lacey Hickey]

This book starts weak by sharing little actionable information, but it does get stronger as it progresses. It gives some great real world examples and really shares a great mindset regarding the right way to differentiate a classrooms.

[Kelsey]

Gives teachers who are new to differentiating a good idea of where to start! I highly recommend to all (novice and experienced) teachers!

[Salma Ezzat]

of course not my favorite book genre
بس فيه presentation :'(

[Beth]

Fascinating introduction to developing a differentiated learning plan in a classroom.

[Mandy Griffin]

Simple and easy ways to differentiate in the classroom from K-12. Concrete examples and suggestions.

[Holly]

An important book for sure; not hugely readable, and I would have preferred a more specific-to-language arts-teaching version.

[Sherry]

A well written book of support in making learning accessible for all learners.

[Ann]

Read for a PD course. I think my district does a good job of stressing the importance of differentiated instruction based on our population. I learned a few practical tips to implement.

[Jon]

As far as textbooks go, this was outstanding. It’s clear, accessible, and practical. Hard to ask for more.

[Olivia Halverson]

Great practical strategies for differentiation! 4/5 - losing one star due to the fact I found some of the vignettes not extremely helpful for my teaching situation.

[Rebekah Goorabian]

I love the idea of differentiated instruction, but honestly this book was so boring 😭

[Stacey Spanier]

Some great observations and strategies, but a bit outdated in classroom examples. Looking forward to getting my hands on the newest edition.

[Ms. Hull]

If you are in education get this for your shelves ASAP.

[August E]

I changed my rating to 3 stars from 4 - this book is a good introduction to the concepts of differentiation, but there is definitely better information available.

[★]

lo leí para la uni