Teachers have always known that not all their students work at the same level. However, for teachers to manually adjust lesson plans for each child seems like a daunting task, given that there are only 24 hours in a day. This is where educational technology tools really shine. By using online digital platforms that combine formative assessment, lesson plans, quizzes, progress tracking, and artificial intelligence, educators can easily adjust instruction for an entire classroom of children at once.
The following differentiated instruction websites offer a wide variety of methods to differentiate teaching and learning for any budget.
Top Free Sites for Differentiated Instruction
Readings
An award-winning platform that provides free literacy resources for students of any age. But “resources” don't do justice to the breadth of ReadWork's standards-aligned, research-based literacy content, which is backed by strong teacher guidance. Create your free account and then explore features including lesson differentiation, assignments, assessment, and progress tracking. Integrates with Google classroom.
SplashLearn
SplashLearn, a free game-based platform for educators that teaches math and English, offers thousands of math and English games aligned to the preK-5 curriculum, as well as differentiated practice objectives, lesson plans, and comprehensive progress reports . The website features a well-designed interface that allows users to easily search for content by grade and topic. Compatible with most devices.
For teachers: Differentiated reading lessons
A step-by-step guide to creating differentiated reading lessons for students in grades 3-10 based on a selection of articles written at three literacy levels. Detailed PDF lesson plans, ideas, and graphics provide solid direction for classroom implementation. Tip: Ignore the reluctant header links at the top of the article and simply scroll down the page.
Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples
After a brief discussion of differentiated instruction strategies, this HMH article examines in detail 20 diverse ways teachers can differentiate instruction. With methods ranging from choice boards to graded assignments to flipped classrooms, there's something for every teaching style.
Read Write Think Differentiating Instruction
Read Write Think has developed a comprehensive series of guides detailing strategies for differentiation in the classroom, from assessment to cooperative learning to think-share-share. Each guide includes the research basis for the strategy, how to implement it, and lesson plans. An essential for your differentiated teaching.
Classtools.net
Classtools.net, the brainchild of educator Russel Tarr, allows teachers to create games, quizzes, activities, and diagrams for differentiated creative learning. Don't be fooled by the simple design of Classtools.net – this site is a powerhouse of free, fun, easy-to-use tools for teaching and learning, many of which can't be found anywhere else. Try the Tarsia Puzzle Generator, Dice Roller, or Turbo Timeline Generator. Don't worry: “Fling the Teacher” is a lot of fun.
Breaking news in English
An extraordinary free site that transforms current events into rich classroom lessons for students of any level. Each news article is written at four different reading levels and is accompanied by online grammar, spelling and vocabulary activities, as well as printable worksheets. Students can also listen to audio at five speeds for each item. Ideal for ELL students or simply to differentiate English lessons.
Rewordify.com
A very interesting free site that “reformulates” by simplifying difficult texts, from classic literature (Lewis Carroll, William Shakespeare, Harriet Beecher Stowe, for example) to historical documents and modern Internet articles. Users can upload their own text or URL, or browse existing content. Be sure to check out the printable vocabulary exercises and tests and the Educator Central department, which allows teachers to add student accounts and track progress.
Best Freemeum Sites for Differentiated Instruction
No red ink
NoRedInk, an ELA platform designed to develop writing and critical thinking skills, allows teachers to create engaging personalized exercises, structured writing activities, and standards-aligned assignments. The free version includes a dashboard for teachers, text-to-speech functionality for students, and limited scalable lessons and activities. The premium account allows for thousands of skill practice activities, writing prompts, and hundreds of guided draft suggestions.
common literature
A tiered, research-backed program from nonprofit CommonLit that provides reading lessons and assessments for students in grades 3-12. The robust free account option offers the entire digital library of books as well as the CommonLit 360 curriculum for educators, who must register with a school email account. Teachers can differentiate lessons through text selection, annotations, and/or through different assessments. Three other packages designed for entire schools add roster integrations, professional development, and other features.
Feather
Quill, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to providing free tools to help students improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Start with diagnostic tests to evaluate your students' learning. A robust set of tutorials will guide teachers and students to get the most out of Quill.
Arcademics
K-8 game-based learning in a wide range of subjects. The educational portal allows teachers to track and monitor students, generate detailed reports and evaluate student learning.
ClassroomQ
This innovative, easy-to-use platform acts as a digital hand-raising device, making it easier for children to ask for help and for teachers to provide it in a timely manner.
pear cover
A Google Slides plugin that allows educators to create quizzes, slides, and presentations with their own content or using templates. Students respond through their mobile devices; Teachers can then assess students' understanding in real time.
Learn actively
Educators can make any reading material their own by adding questions and annotations. “Extra Help” features support differentiated learning by providing explanatory text when needed. Integrates with Google Classroom and Canvas.
The best premium sites for differentiated instruction
membean
Membeam, a popular digital vocabulary teaching tool that includes built-in differentiation, takes an unusual approach to vocabulary memorization, emphasizing practice through memory retrieval rather than memory encoding. Additionally, Membeam focuses on spaced practice (in contrast to cramming) as well as promoting higher-order thinking. The price ranges from $6 to $20 per student, depending on the number of students. Free trials are available.
Renzulli Learning
Founded by education researchers, Renzulli Learning is a learning system that differentiates instruction for any student through careful assessment of the student's learning style, preferences, and creativity. Integrates with Clever, ClassLink and other SSO providers. A generous 90-day free trial makes it easy to try it out for yourself.
IXL
A popular site for English language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish that allows you to track student progress with detailed reports. Educators can monitor areas where students are struggling and then adjust instruction accordingly.
buncee
Buncee, an interactive blended learning tool for creating shareable presentations or digital stories, includes an extensive multimedia library to enrich your slideshows. Teachers can also invest a classroom by assigning tests, in addition to tracking and monitoring students. 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
oto
An individualized learning management solution and mobile learning environment through which educators can differentiate instruction based on detailed, real-time analytics.
Parlay
Teachers can use Parlay to generate classroom discussion on any topic. Explore a robust library of discussion topics (with resources), facilitate online roundtables, or create a live verbal roundtable. Use built-in tools to provide feedback and evaluate student progress. Free trial for teachers.
Socrates
A standards-aligned game-based learning system dedicated to differentiated learning that automatically adjusts content to students' needs.
