How to individualize instruction for students: Differentiation vs. intervention

Meeting the diverse needs of every student in a classroom can be challenging, even for seasoned educators. Whether it’s helping students who are at risk of falling behind or tailoring lessons for those who need an extra challenge, individualizing instruction is key to ensuring students’ success.

In an earlier blog, I discussed the importance of whole group instruction for introducing new concepts, promoting collaboration, and reviewing important prerequisite skills. In this blog, I’ll continue the conversation by:

• Exploring effective strategies for individualizing instruction for students
• Explaining the difference between differentiation and intervention
• Discussing how to implement these approaches to benefit every learner in your school or classroom

What is individualized instruction in K–12 education?

Individualized instruction is a teaching approach that adjusts learning experiences to fit the unique needs, strengths, and interests of each student. When implemented effectively, it can address both academic and non-academic growth, helping students to become well-rounded, lifelong learners.

In the classroom, individualized instruction often involves:

1. Small group work: Providing focused attention in smaller settings allows students to engage more deeply and interact meaningfully with both peers and teachers.
2. One-on-one time: Personalized instruction during independent work offers an opportunity to give extra support to students who need it.
3. Varied learning tools: Incorporating different resources like manipulatives, digital platforms, and hands-on activities makes learning accessible to students with different learning styles.

Many people only associate individualized instruction with struggling students, but every student can benefit from it. Individualization ensures that learning happens at a pace and style that suits each learner, whether they need extra support or enrichment. In short, we teach individual students in the way they prefer to learn to help them better absorb new information.

Individualization can be achieved in the classroom through two primary methods: differentiation and intervention. Let’s explore each method in more detail.

Individualization through differentiation: Offering multiple learning pathways

Differentiation involves modifying instruction to help students meet grade-level standards by offering multiple pathways for learning. It’s about providing the right level of challenge and support for each student.

There are two approaches to using differentiation in the classroom:

• Intuitive differentiation: Teachers make adjustments during lessons based on real-time feedback from students.
• Intentional differentiation: Teachers anticipate potential challenges during lesson planning and prepare differentiated resources in advance.

No matter which approach you take, here’s how differentiation can work in your classroom, along with three methods for providing students with multiple pathways for learning:

1. Tailored small group activities: Group students based on their skill levels and learning needs, and then assign tasks that align with their current understanding.
2. Teacher-directed instruction: During independent work time, work closely with individuals or small groups to offer additional skill modeling or coaching.
3. Supportive tools: Use visuals, manipulatives, or digital platforms to enhance whole group instruction for those who need more support.

Individualization through intervention: Providing targeted support

Intervention targets specific students who are falling behind in their learning. It is data-driven, often relying on assessment results to pinpoint gaps and provide targeted support. For example, if assessment data shows that a student struggles with multiplication, the teacher might set aside time for focused math drills, using manipulatives to build the student’s understanding and confidence.

Interventions fall into two key categories within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework:

1. Academic interventions often focus on core areas like reading or math, using strategies such as vocabulary building, reading comprehension exercises, and phonics instruction.
2. Non-academic interventions help students to address classroom disruptions, homework refusal, and other behavior challenges by providing structured support, such as assigning a mentor or accountability partner.

What are the benefits of individualized instruction for students?

Individualized instruction empowers students to engage with learning in ways that work best for them. This approach:

• Helps students who have fallen behind to catch up to grade-level expectations
• Keeps students on track by teaching them in a way that suits their learning preferences
• Utilizes real-time data and insights into student learning, allowing for in-the-moment interventions and adjustments
• Provides opportunities for students to excel and challenge themselves

For administrators, encouraging teachers to use individualized instruction can also help to raise overall student achievement and foster a more inclusive and supportive school culture.

How individualized interventions help students succeed

As I noted earlier, differentiation helps educators to provide each learner with the right level of challenge, while interventions are essential for addressing specific skill gaps and providing targeted support that helps students to catch up to their peers. By identifying the precise areas where a student is struggling, educators can tailor their teaching methods and resources to meet that student’s unique needs.

Let’s explore two examples of how individualized interventions might be implemented in the classroom.

#1: Academic interventions for struggling readers

Teachers often implement individualized academic interventions in core subject areas like reading and math. For example, if a student struggles with reading comprehension, the teacher might focus on:

• Building vocabulary through interactive word games or flashcards
• Teaching reading comprehension strategies through guided reading groups, where students discuss text and answer open-ended questions about what they’ve read
• Expanding word analysis skills using activities that break words down into root words, prefixes, and suffixes
• Strengthening phonemic decoding by incorporating phonics-based apps and games to help students recognize and pronounce words

Real-world example: In Ms. Lee’s second-grade class, several students struggle with decoding words. Using formative assessment data, Ms. Lee creates small, focused groups to practice phonemic awareness activities daily. She also assigns these students to use digital tools, such as interactive lessons in Nearpod and individualized skills practice in Lalilo, where they can work at their own pace on decoding and word analysis.

#2: Non-academic interventions for behavior challenges

Behavior interventions can be just as crucial, helping students to overcome challenges like classwork refusal or the use of inappropriate language. These interventions might include:

• Providing calming tools such as sensory toys or mindfulness exercises to minimize classroom disruptions
• Pairing a student with a “study buddy” to encourage accountability and teamwork in response to classwork/homework refusal
• Setting up a rewards system to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce aggression
• Building rapport with one-on-one check-ins to understand the student’s perspective and reduce disengagement

Real-world example: In Mr. Ramos’s fifth-grade classroom, one student consistently refuses to complete homework. To address this, Mr. Ramos introduces a mentoring program where older students check in weekly with younger students to offer encouragement and support. By setting smaller, more manageable homework goals and pairing the student with a supportive mentor, Mr. Ramos sees a marked improvement in the student’s homework completion and overall engagement.

Monitoring progress for maximum impact

For individualized interventions to be effective, it’s essential to regularly monitor students’ progress. Teachers should collect ongoing data through formative assessments and classroom observations, and adjust interventions as needed. This data-driven approach ensures that interventions remain relevant and impactful for each student.

By using tools like Nearpod’s formative assessments, educators can track student progress in real time, ensuring that each intervention is working as intended. This allows for timely adjustments, whether it’s adding additional support or refining instructional strategies.

Supporting individualized instruction with the right edtech tools

Educators are key to creating individualized learning experiences for students, but having the right tools can make all the difference. Nearpod’s platform supports both differentiation and individualized intervention by offering a range of formative assessment tools, interactive lessons, and multimedia resources that cater to various learning styles and needs.

Following are strategies you can use when creating individualized learning plans with Nearpod:

• Voice: Allow students to share their preferences and interests in what and how they want to learn. Tools like Nearpod’s Collaborate Board, Polls, and Open-Ended Questions can capture these insights.
• Choice: Provide students with options for how they engage with learning activities. Use choice boards or Nearpod lesson codes to let students pick projects or assignments that align with their passions.
• Engagement: Foster active learning through interactive assessments like quizzes and gamified activities (e.g., Nearpod’s Time to Climb) to keep students motivated and involved in their own learning process.
• Motivation: Encourage intrinsic motivation by aligning lessons with students’ interests and strengths, using interactive tools and gamification to boost both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
• Ownership: Cultivate a sense of responsibility by giving students control over their learning path, such as through self-paced lessons, which allow for reflection and independence.
• Purpose: Help students understand the real-world relevance of their learning. Nearpod’s feedback tools, such as Polls and Draw It, provide continuous guidance to support goal setting and skill development.
• Self-efficacy: Build students’ confidence by providing them with timely feedback and opportunities to reflect on their progress. This fosters a belief in their ability to succeed academically and beyond.

Individualized instruction can be a powerful motivator at every level by giving students greater voice, choice, and ownership in their educational journey. When implemented thoughtfully and supported with the right classroom tools, individualization can have a major impact on learning outcomes and students’ attitudes toward school.