Differentiated instruction is a way of learning that benefits students more than the "old fashioned" way that many of us used when we were learning. It is based on three areas of need that have changed the way learning occurs in our classrooms. These factors are student readiness, cultural factors, and economical statuses that families are working from. The new way of looking at our children is to think of them as "each student" rather than the traditional way of "the students." As teachers, we need to adjust our way of teaching so that all students reach the goals that have been set forth by our state educational department. We need to be aware that each child brings strengths to a topic and that our job is to recognize these areas and exploit them so that all students can benefit. It requires us to have clear, concise learning objectives so that all students can embark on the journey of learning.
In order to be successful there must be a flexible approach to the concepts of time, space, materials, groupings and instruction. All of these things should be accounted for within the classroom and in the most normal method possible. There must be a balance of student and teacher choice in assignments and the learning environment. Teachers must remember that there are many different ways of achieving the common goals in schools. Students should always be learning! Interest also plays a key role because learning by readiness alone requires a lot of motivation and many students lack the internal drive to do this on their own. Establishing a learning profile for individual students is also important in ensuring success for all students.