Back-to-school season is here—which means fresh pencils, crisp bulletin boards, and that nervous-excited energy that fills the classroom. It also means thinking about how you’ll meet the needs of every student walking through your classroom door. Differentiation can feel overwhelming, especially at the start of the year, but with the right mindset (and a few practical strategies), you can set yourself up for success from day one. Use these 5 back-to-school differentiation tips to help you get started.
Back to School Differentiation Tips
Here are my top five back-to-school tips for getting started with differentiation:
1. Get to Know Your Students Early
Differentiation starts with knowing who’s in your room. Take time during the first week to do quick interest surveys, learning style inventories, or even simple “get to know you” conversations. These don’t need to be fancy—just asking about favorite books, subjects, or hobbies can give you clues about how to connect learning to their lives. The more you know, the easier it will be to tailor lessons to their unique interests and needs.
Here are my 6 favorite Getting to Know You Activities.
2. Pre-Assess Before You Dive In
Before teaching a new unit, give students a short pre-assessment (even something as simple as 5 quick problems or a short writing response). This isn’t about grading—it’s about finding out what they already know and where the gaps are. Trust me, it’s a game-changer when planning. Why reteach what half your class already mastered?
Get FREE Standards-Based Data Collection Sheets to track your students’ progress on assessments.
3. Start Small with Choice
You don’t need to overhaul every lesson with ten different pathways. Start by offering just one simple choice. Maybe it’s how students show what they’ve learned (poster, slide deck, or written response) or a choice of two texts on the same topic. Small doses of choice give students ownership without overwhelming you.
4. Use Flexible Grouping
Avoid labeling kids as “high” or “low” groups all year long. Instead, mix it up often. Group students by interest, by readiness level, or even randomly for different activities. Flexible grouping keeps students from feeling stuck in a box and helps you target instruction more effectively.
Learn how to use flexible groups for guided math and reading strategy groups.
5. Plan for Scaffolds and Extensions in Advance
One of the biggest time-savers is thinking ahead: “What will my students who struggle need?” and “What will my students who finish quickly need?” A quick scaffold might be sentence starters, visuals, or guided notes. An extension might be an open-ended challenge problem or a creative project. Having these ready keeps the class flowing smoothly.
These Early Finisher Choice Boards are the perfect way to keep your students engaged when they finish work before their classmates.
Final Thought
Differentiation doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially if you start small. The goal isn’t to create 25 separate lesson plans—it’s to create access points so every student feels challenged and supported. Start with just one of these tips, and you’ll already be building a classroom where every learner can thrive.
Join the Differentiated Difference Facebook Group to learn tips for differentiating your lessons!
If you’d like step-by-step guidance and ready-to-use differentiated resources, join The Differentiated Difference Club! Everything you need for differentiation will be at your fingertips, including video lessons to walk you through the steps to differentiate your lessons, yearlong guided math units, and reading lessons for every reading standard.
What Do You Think?
Which of these tips do you want to try first this year? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re starting differentiation in your classroom!
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