Which term describes a teaching approach that tailors instruction to meet individual student needs?

The term that describes a teaching approach that tailors instruction to meet individual student needs is differentiation. This educational strategy involves modifying content, process, and products according to students’ varying readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles. By implementing differentiation, educators can create a learning environment where all students, regardless of their abilities or learning styles, can engage with the material effectively.

For instance, a teacher might provide varied assignments for students based on their understanding of a topic. This could mean offering advanced materials to one group while providing additional support and simpler content to another. Differentiation promotes inclusivity and ensures that each student can progress at their own pace, fostering a more personalized learning experience.

While scaffolding, active learning, and instructional practice are also valuable teaching strategies, they focus on different aspects of the learning process. Scaffolding generally refers to providing temporary support to help students achieve a higher level of understanding, active learning encourages engagement through participation, and instructional practice encompasses all methods of teaching. Differentiation specifically narrows in on adjusting teaching tactics to meet individual needs, making it the most accurate term in this context.