Early Language & Literacy KnowledgeBase

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

The Early Language and Literacy KnowledgeBase is an online resource supporting language and literacy development in early learners from birth through age eight. Its focus is to support parents and caregivers in helping early learners with their language and literacy development, and teachers in enhancing their instruction for early learners from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3.

Task 1: Differentiating Instruction for All Students

Guideline: Most educators believe all students do not learn in the same way. As noted at the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials website, "Differentiated instruction is a teaching theory based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students in classrooms." This task provides resources aimed at increasing early educators' awareness of differentiated instruction.

resources

REFERENCES

Differentiated Instruction

This link to the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials website offers an overview of differentiated instruction.

Differentiating Instruction

Authored by Scott Willis and Larry Mann, this article describes how differentiated instruction provides manageable ways to meet individual student needs.

Differentiating Instruction in the Preschool Classroom: Bridging Emergent Literacy Instruction and Developmentally Appropriate Practice

This article is adapted from Purcell, T., & Rosemary, C. (2007), Differentiating instruction in the preschool classroom: Bridging emergent literacy instruction and developmentally appropriate practice explores adapting differentiated instruction in the preschool classroom.

Differentiation Central

This link to the Differentiation Central website provides resources on differentiated instruction. Differentiation Central is a service of the Institutes on Academic Diversity at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education.

Differentiation of Instruction in the Elementary Grades

Authored by Carol Ann Tomlinson, this article describes the concept of differentiated instruction in elementary grades. Though discussing the elementary grades, educators of early learners may find its general content useful with understanding and applying the concept with early learners.