Using differentiated texts is when a teacher uses different texts with different groups of students rather than the same text with the whole class, while still maintaining the same curriculum learning outcomes. The text choice is based upon the student’s level of English or their first language. Effective differentiation is only possible with good assessment knowledge.
Some of the texts used may be bilingual texts in order to support the student’s first language. The use of bilingual texts helps students to make connections to their own prior learning and experience, as well as supporting their first language.
Advice on text selection can be found on Literacy Online and also in The English Language Learning Progressions. Differentiated texts are a form of differentiated instruction.
Watch this video to see an example of differentiated texts being used in a year 5–6 visual arts class
Teaching and learning sequence planning examples:
Primary level:
Published on: 19 Jan 2018
