GLA Differentiated Instruction 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher notices some students grasp new concepts quickly while others need repeated practice. Which differentiation strategy best addresses this gap?
- Assigning the same worksheet to all students
- Using tiered assignments with varying complexity (Correct answer)
- Allowing students to choose any activity they like
- Skipping the concept for struggling learners
Correct answer: Using tiered assignments with varying complexity
Tiered assignments allow all students to work on the same concept at an appropriate level of challenge.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'flexible grouping' in a differentiated classroom?
- Students stay in the same ability group all year
- Groups change based on readiness, interest, or learning profile (Correct answer)
- Only high-achieving students work in groups
- Groups are determined solely by student friendships
Correct answer: Groups change based on readiness, interest, or learning profile
Flexible grouping means group membership changes based on the current task, concept, or student need.
Question 3: A student with advanced reading skills is bored during a literacy lesson. Which differentiated response is most appropriate?
- Have the student help grade papers
- Provide an extension task with greater depth or complexity (Correct answer)
- Let the student read independently without structure
- Move the student to a higher grade classroom permanently
Correct answer: Provide an extension task with greater depth or complexity
Extension tasks challenge advanced learners while keeping them engaged with the curriculum.
Question 4: According to Tomlinson's DI framework, which three elements of curriculum can teachers differentiate?
- Standards, grades, and homework
- Content, process, and product (Correct answer)
- Textbooks, tests, and attendance
- Vocabulary, grammar, and fluency
Correct answer: Content, process, and product
Tomlinson identifies content (what students learn), process (how they learn), and product (how they demonstrate learning) as the three differentiable elements.
Question 5: A teacher provides audio recordings of a text alongside the printed version. This is an example of differentiating:
- Product
- Environment
- Content (Correct answer)
- Assessment
Correct answer: Content
Providing alternative formats of the same material (audio + print) is a content differentiation strategy.
Question 6: Which assessment approach best supports ongoing differentiation in a literacy class?
- Annual standardized testing only
- Formative assessment used throughout instruction (Correct answer)
- A single end-of-unit summative exam
- Teacher observation once per semester
Correct answer: Formative assessment used throughout instruction
Formative assessment provides continuous data that teachers use to adjust instruction for individual students.
Question 7: A student struggles with reading comprehension but excels at visual tasks. A differentiated teacher would most likely:
- Excuse the student from reading assignments
- Use graphic organizers and visual supports during reading instruction (Correct answer)
- Refer the student for special education testing immediately
- Have the student copy definitions from the dictionary
Correct answer: Use graphic organizers and visual supports during reading instruction
Graphic organizers leverage the student's visual strength to support comprehension of text.
GLA Differentiated Instruction 2
A teacher notices some students grasp new concepts quickly while others need repeated practice.
Which differentiation strategy best addresses this gap?