ABSTRACT

Educators can implement differentiated instruction (DI) to respond systematically to students’ varied learning needs and language skills. DI is an instructional orientation wherein various aspects of the classroom environment are modified to enhance students’ learning opportunities. This chapter provides an overview of DI and its component practices that can be applied in order to achieve instructional tailoring to unique student needs, with an emphasis on its application with young English learners (ELs). DI scholarship specific to TESOL and young ELs is limited, so we draw primarily on studies conducted with DI in English-only general and special education settings with elementary-aged students to address implications for early childhood contexts.