Differentiate Instruction for the Struggling Student
When teachers differentiate instruction, they can better address the unique needs of each student. RightStart Math integrates differentiation through manipulatives, worksheets, and games, but what if you need more? This blog series provides practical ideas to differentiate instruction in your classroom. In this blog, we focus on activities for struggling students. Be sure to also explore our blogs on differentiated instruction for the strong student and the whole class. Additionally, we’ll cover strategies for modifying the Warm-Up and incorporating exit tickets for the lesson conclusion as an informal grading option. Instructional Considerations: Students with learning differences require more time to learn, more practice, and extra review for previously learned material. As you move through the lessons, you may need to revisit earlier concepts or math facts before introducing new content. A key strategy to help struggling students stay on track is having them play math card games regularly at home and in class. This minimizes the need for extensive review of facts and processes. Here are additional ways you can differentiate instruction for the STRUGGLING STUDENT while using RightStart Math: 1. Extend the use of the Cotter Abacus. Some students with learning struggles take longer to shift from concrete to abstract understanding. Allow them to use the abacus longer to support this transition. 2. Pair with a strong student. Peer learning can be powerful. Pair a struggling student with a stronger peer for tasks, activities, and games to reinforce learning. 3. Use place value cards during problem solving. Students with dyslexia and dysgraphia (and other learning differences) often struggle to remember which direction to write a number and can frequently flip the order of digits. Have them build the number with place value cards first, then copy it onto a worksheet to reduce mental fatigue. 4. Allow verbal or whiteboard responses. Consider allowing verbal responses for students who have difficulty writing. Writing on a whiteboard is another good option as students find it is easier to erase and change their answers than if they use paper and pencil. Also, writing with markers can assist in the development of fine motor skills. 5. Utilize graph paper for written work. Graph paper can assist students keep their problems in correct alignment. You can find free graph paper of all sizes from various online sources. You can also click on one of the buttons below to download our journal/graph paper. Large Print Graph Paper Small Print Graph Paper 6. Take brain breaks. Struggling students often exert extra effort to keep up. Give them short breaks to stretch, change location, or chat to prevent mental fatigue and stay engaged. 7. Add movement to the lesson. Find ways to incorporate movement into the lesson. For example, when teaching even and odd numbers, set up a hopscotch course where the student jumps on one foot for odd numbers and on two feet for even numbers. For a greater challenge, mix up the numbers! 8. Move away from the desk. Students do not need to at a desk all day. Have the students sit on the floor or let them stand at their table. You could even consider having them sit on a yoga ball so they can move as they learn. 9. Encourage Math Card Games for At-Home Practice Struggling students often need additional practice beyond what can be accomplished during class time. Sending math card games home can provide an engaging way for them to practice essential math skills. Consider having your students’ parents purchase a Math Card Games kit to ensure they have all the materials needed. If you would like a special discount code for your parents, let us know, and we can create one for your school. Conclusion For a struggling student, adapting your lessons can enhance their focus, improve retention, and support steady forward progress. Feel free to contact us if you have other suggestions or need additional ideas!
Differentiate Instruction for the Strong Student
When teachers differentiate instruction, they can better meet the unique needs of each student in their classroom. RightStart Math has built-in differentiated approaches by incorporating manipulatives, worksheets, and games into the lessons. But what if you need more? This is the first in a short blog series that will give you ideas on how to differentiate instruction while using RightStart math. This blog will focus on activities for the strong student. You will also want to check out ideas on how to differentiate for the struggling student, differentiate for the whole class, as well as how to differentiate the Warm-Up time and implement exit tickets for an informal grading option. Ways you can differentiate RightStart Math for the strong student: Have your strong student play solitaire games. Games such as A42 – Corners Puzzle, D13 – Multivides, D14 – Mixed Multivides, and many other games will not only give the strong student extra activities to work on while the rest of the class is completing their tasks, but these games will challenge the student to increase their skills and develop fluency. Use games to teach new content. If your strong student enjoys challenges, why not choose a game that will teach new content? For example, if they have not learned multiplication facts, have them play P10 – Multiplication Memory. If this student has not learned to divide with remainders, have them play D7 – Quotient and Remainder. You can modify the rules so the game can be played independently. Encourage the student to peer teach. Encourage your strong student to mentor or work with a student who needs a little help. You can assign games or activities for students to complete together. In this environment, the stronger student can encourage and assist the struggling student. Peer tutoring fosters conversation and gives the opportunity for a struggling student to ask questions in a low-stress environment. Give the strong student number puzzles to solve. RightStart Math introduces number puzzles in the curriculum. Instructions are listed in 4th grade (Level E), Lesson 30, and 5th grade (Level F), Lesson 14. If you do not have those grades, let us know, and we can provide instructions and examples. Have the student create math problems for the teacher and/or the rest of the class to solve. Students enjoy ‘stumping’ the teacher. So, have your student create a challenging math problem for the teacher to solve. As they try to create a difficult problem, they must think through the process and check the teacher’s answer, ensuring they know how to solve it. Then, the teacher and the class can discuss the problem. Encourage the student to create a math card game. As the student learns new concepts, have them create a game to practice what they have learned. Then, let the entire class play the game. We would also love to see the game your students created. So, forward the game instructions to us to share this game with others! Have the student create tangram art or puzzles. You can find tangram art and puzzle kits everywhere. Tangram art and puzzles are fun and engaging and develop spatial visualization skills. Better yet, have your student create their own tangram art and draw the shape for their classmates to recreate. Conclusion When you differentiate instruction, you will help your strong students maintain interest, push them to their full potential, and ensure they remain active participants in the learning process. Contact us if you have other ideas or would like other suggestions.
Differentiate Instruction in the Classroom
When teachers differentiate instruction, they can more effectively meet the diverse needs of each student. RightStart Math already integrates differentiation through its use of manipulatives, worksheets, and games, but what if you’re looking for even more ways to engage your students? This blog series is designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement strategies for differentiating instruction in your classroom. In this blog, we focus on generic activities you can use in your classroom. Be sure to check out our other posts on differentiating instruction for the strong student and the struggling learner. You may also want to view the blogs on Differentiating the Warm-Ups and the Conclusion. Here are some ways to differentiate instruction for all students while using RightStart Math: 1. Lesson Stations Incorporating stations helps students engage with different aspects of the material by working in small groups. Use task cards to guide students through each station. Here are a few station ideas: Warm-Up station Activities using the Cotter Abacus Hands-on activities with the Math Balance A station dedicated to the math card game of the day A segment of the lesson activity A review station featuring a previously played math card game Review lessons are particularly well-suited for station-based learning. Each station can feature a different game or activity outlined in the review lesson plan to reinforce previously learned skills. 2. Math Journals Encourage students to document their learning in a math journal. This can include drawings, explanations, and examples of what they learned that day. Not only will this give insight into their understanding, but it also creates a reference for students to use. When they look up a previously learned concept, they can read about it in their own words. 3. Graphic Organizers Like math journals, graphic organizers help students visualize the day’s concepts. Have students work together to create a visual representation of what they learned, reinforcing understanding and promoting teamwork. 4. Learning Badges Motivate and reward student success by using learning badges. Whether using them for class-wide or individual goals, badges are a fun way to celebrate progress and keep students engaged in their learning journey. 5. Scaffolding While many RightStart Math activities naturally scaffold learning, you may want to add extra support. Scaffolding can look like this: The teacher models the activity first. Students practice the activity with teacher guidance and questioning, like “What comes next?” Students can work together in small groups to learn from each other as they solve the problems. Finally, students complete the activity independently. 6. Play Additional Games Although lessons suggest specific games, you are not limited to these. If your students need more review, have them play a familiar game that reinforces previously learned skills. If they’re ready for a challenge, introduce a game that covers new material. Remember to allow the students to use manipulatives and strategies to solve problems as they play the games. Games are a learning platform, not a reward or a time filler. 7. Spice Up Warm-Ups and Conclusions Make Warm-Up and Conclusion questions more interactive. Instead of simply asking questions verbally, consider group responses, interactive problem-solving, or incorporating Exit Tickets. These alternative methods add excitement and ensure all students are actively participating. More ideas for differentiating Warm-Ups and Conclusions will be explored in other blog posts. Conclusion While RightStart Math already includes engaging elements that make math fun, adding further differentiation strategies allows you to differentiate instruction even more precisely, addressing the unique needs of all students and enhancing their learning outcomes. We’d love to hear how you differentiate RightStart Math in your classroom—share your ideas with us!
