Differentiated instruction must start with a high-quality, challenging, well-focused curriculum. A curriculum that is based on the essential questions and enduring understandings of a subject. Its purpose is clear and relevant to both the students and the teacher and its focus remains constant throughout the unit/lesson. Use the tools provided here as well as information from the folks at the Understanding by Design Exchange to help you develop quality curriculum prior to employing the differentiation strategies found within the "toolbox."
The Path to Good Curriculum
STANDARDSDon't use standards
as a curriculum, but don't throw out the standards either. Start with your standards, then build excellent curriculum around them. Check out the
Virginia State Standards.
KUD'sUse the standards to determine what you want your students to
Know, Understand, and be able to Do (KUD). Click
here for a template to help you lay out your KUDs.
CURRICULUMNow that you have your KUDs defined, it's time to wrap them in high-quality, differentiated curriculum. The best place we know of for help in this step is
here.
ASSESSMENTGood curriculum is informed by well-aligned assessment. Click
here to continue to our Assessment section.
