Three Ring Circus of Differentiated Instruction

The teacher as the classroom's ringleader, trying to fulfill the needs of all of her/his learners, at times, can seem like a three-ring circus. Just as enjoyment comes from the frenetic activity of the circus, benefits can stem from differentiating instruction for one's learners. These benefits include a sense of self-efficacy, increased content understanding, learner empowerment, increased academic achievement, and inclusion of each child in the learning process. If teachers focus on one ring at a time, though, their enjoyment and appreciation of their circus experience is enhanced. Similarly, one can develop effective differentiated instruction experiences by focusing on one ring at a time. Start with what one is comfortable doing, and then add on from there. After all, the teacher is the ringmaster, and she/he sets the stage for her/his learners. This article describes the three rings of differentiated instruction: (1) learning profile; (2) ability; and (3) interests, and offers discussion on each ring. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.)