Instructional Strategies that Work

The students that arrive in our classrooms come from a mosaic of different backgrounds and some with very specific needs. We have students who have different learning styles, learning and physical disabilities, non – English speaking students and those with behavior issues. The diversity of these students is what makes for a rich learning environment but often challenging. Not all of our students are alike and therefore our instruction should not be a “one-size fits-all” approach. We need a responsive teaching style. We need to Differentiate our Instruction!

We can modify our instructional strategies to create appropriate learning experiences for different students. A learning environment that meets the needs of all students includes centers, tiered learning activities, chunking or compacting material, flexible grouping, and varied teaching modalities that touch upon the multiple intelligences.

There are specific strategies embedded within all of Broward Virtual University course content that provide you with activities that meet the multiple needs of students. We have outlined some of the top strategies that can assist you with meeting the needs of students with disabilities, students with special learning needs (including students who are gifted and talented), and students with limited English proficiency. We can all improve student behaviors within the classroom identifying early and appropriate interventions to help students learn.

Differentiated instruction is not an add-on to your instructional day. It is a process where teachers reach out to individuals or small groups to vary their teaching based on students' readiness, interest, and/or learning style.  Teachers can differentiate classroom elements such as content, process, products, and learning environment.

Student Behavior • ESE • ESOL • Gifted and Talented