Curriculum differentiation is a broad term referring to the need to tailor teaching environments and practices to create appropriately different learning experiences for different students.

A differentiated classroom includes the following elements:

• Student differences are studied
• Assessment is ongoing and diagnostic to understand how to make instruction more responsive to learner need
• Focus on multiple forms of intelligence is evident
• Excellence is defined in large measure by individual growth from a starting point
• Students are frequently guided in making interest-based learning choices
• Many learning profile options are provided for
• Many instructional arrangements are used
• Student readiness, interest, and learning profile shapes instruction

More differentiated classroom characteristics:

• Multi-option assignments are frequently used
• Time is used flexibly in accordance with student need
• Multiple materials are provided
• The teacher facilitates students' skills at becoming more self-reliant learners
• Students work with the teacher to establish both whole-class and individual learning goals
• Students are assessed in multiple ways
• Students help other students and the teacher solve problems
• Use of essential skills to make sense of and understand key concepts and principles is the focus of learning