Where to start with teach-to-the-top differentiation

Differentiation is one of the most sought-after skills in teaching. Everyone wants to differentiate for their learners, but there are multiple (often conflicting) ideas of what it should look like. For example, Rob Butler thinks top-middle-bottom differentiation can be limiting as it conflicts with having high expectations of learners.

He prefers a ‘teach to the top’ model, where the teacher tries to get everyone to the same level, but provides support to those who need help to get there. In this article, he provides you with ideas on how to implement this approach in your classroom with your own students.