Identify a common pitfall when differentiating instruction.

• A. Differentiating only by easy/hard tasks
• B. Thoroughly using data to guide decisions
• C. Aligning with standards
• D. Ongoing assessment

Answer: (A)

Differentiation should adjust what students learn, how they engage with it, and how they demonstrate their learning, all based on readiness, interests, and learning preferences. A common pitfall is differentiating only by easy or hard tasks. Limiting differentiation to simply making tasks tougher or easier misses other crucial levers like providing necessary supports, offering varied ways to explore concepts, and allowing different ways to show understanding. This can leave students who need language supports, scaffolds, or alternative entry points underserved, while also risking boredom for some learners. True differentiation uses data to guide adjustments, stays aligned with standards, and relies on ongoing assessment to inform next steps, rather than relying solely on task difficulty.