The Differentiate Instructions tool in Teach helps you adapt existing instructions so every learner—regardless of readiness, background knowledge, or support needs—can access and engage with instructional tasks. You can adjust the reading level, add a specific type of scaffold, or match a desired length to meet diverse learner needs.

Alt text: Screen titled “Differentiate instructions” with lesson text about investigating mass and ramp steepness, grade level set to Grade 6, scaffolds set to Step by step, length set to Concise, and a Generate button

Differentiate instructions

Follow these steps to create differentiated versions of your instructions:

  1. Provide content. Enter or paste the instructional text directly, or select a file from your cloud storage. The content field accepts 50–50,000 characters.

  2. Select the grade level. Choose the target grade level from the dropdown. The tool adapts the output so the language and expectations match the selected level.

  3. Choose one scaffolding type. Select the single scaffolding support you want added to the adapted instructions. The tool will include only the scaffold you select.

  4. Set the length. Choose whether you want the output to be Concise, Original, or Expanded, depending on how much detail your learners need.

  5. Generate differentiated instructions. Select Generate to create an adapted version of your original instructions based on the settings you selected.

  6. Review and refine. Check the generated instructions to ensure they meet your needs. Use the description field to request additional adjustments or select from suggested refinement options.

Note: Differentiated instructions preserve the original learning objective while adjusting the support, language, and length to meet learner needs.

Tip: Create multiple differentiated versions—varying grade level, scaffold type, or length—to build a tiered set of instructional options for diverse learners.

Scaffolding types

  • Step-by-step — Breaks the task into clear, sequential actions. Useful for learners who need explicit structure or who benefit from procedural guidance.

  • Hints — Provides prompts, clues, or reminders that support thinking without giving away the full answer. Ideal for learners who need nudges to get started or stay on track.

  • Example answer — Supplies a sample response that models what a completed answer could look like. Helpful for learners who benefit from seeing the expected structure or depth of response.

Example scenario

A secondary biology educator has lab instructions written for general education learners but needs versions for learners who require additional scaffolding. Using Differentiate Instructions, the educator can quickly generate modified instructions with built-in supports like sentence starters, graphic organizers, or step-by-step breakdowns.

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