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Differentiation 2.0: How to Make Space For Teachers and Students in a Mandate Heavy World

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ASCD Annual Content

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Session description

If you’re a teacher who longs to create a classroom that inspires and motivates every student to become the best version of themselves, or an administrator seeking to support your teachers’ growth and autonomy (who finds it difficult to understand how persistent mandates and differentiation can co-exist), this session is for you. Through presentations, dialogue, and experiences, we’ll introduce you to a vision for differentiation that can help bridge the gap between mandates and quality teaching and learning that places the student at the center of decision-making. You'll leave with ideas and a framework for enlivening teaching for your students and you.

Outline

Part 1: The Struggle is Real – But So is the Solution
• Teaching today can feel like an endless battle between responsive teaching and
compliance.
• We’ll start by unpacking the big questions:
o Are our students successful?
o Are we placing our students’ realities and needs at the center of instructional
planning or is instruction centered around a test?
o How can we make space for real teaching within rigid expectations?
• You’ll reflect on why you thought teaching was the right profession for you, on your own
teaching experiences, and how well these two elements align for you now.
Takeaway: A fresh perspective on differentiation and a preview of how the 3D Differentiation
framework works in action.
Part 2: Background Differentiation – Designing a Curriculum that Works for Everyone
• You shouldn’t have to choose between teaching the standards and making learning
engaging and relevant.
• We’ll explore ways to:
o Balance essential content with student voice and choice.
o Design meaningful lessons that go beyond “teaching to the test.”
o Make small shifts in lesson planning that maximize impact without extra work.
o Choose instructional approaches that are engaging and inspire students to
enthusiastically interact with the content and each other.
• See real examples of teachers making small but powerful changes to their curriculum—
without getting bogged down.
Takeaway: A framework for designing lessons that meet standards while keeping students
engaged and invested.
Part 3: Foreground Differentiation – Making Instruction Work for All Students (Without Losing
Your Mind)
• Differentiation doesn’t mean creating 30 different lesson plans—it means making smart,
manageable shifts in instruction.
• We’ll break down practical ways to:
o Adapt instruction to different needs, strengths, and interests
o Explore quick-win differentiation strategies
o Engage students in authentic learning experiences
• Through hands-on activities, you’ll experience differentiation from a student’s
perspective and collaborate with colleagues to refine your approach.
Takeaway: A toolkit of differentiation strategies that are doable and effective.
Part 4: Underground Differentiation – Advocating for What’s Right
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—how do you make space for differentiation when the
system isn’t built for it?
• We’ll discuss:
o How to navigate mandates and policies while still maintaining instructional
freedom.
o Ways to influence school culture to support authentic teaching and learning.
o Strategies for talking to administrators and stakeholders about differentiation in a
way that gets buy-in.
• This part of the session is all about equipping you with the language, confidence, and
mindset to be an advocate for good teaching—even in a rigid system.
Takeaway: Practical ways to create change in your classroom, school, and beyond.
Why You Should Attend
• You’ll leave with actual, usable methods.
• You’ll connect with like-minded educators who share your challenges and passions.
• You’ll feel re-energized about teaching in a way that actually inspires students.