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4 Methods to Meet Every Learner Where They Are

Every student learns differently — and as educators we see that diversity as a gift. Academically more and more students are experiencing learning challenges in a variety of areas which require specific methods of support. Effective teaching means meeting learners where they are while guiding them toward their God-given potential. 

 
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Four key teaching modalities help educators address every type of learner well: differentiation, intervention, accommodation, and modification. Though these terms are often used interchangeably, they actually represent a continuum of increasing intensity of supports for all learners by “lowering the barriers, not the bar” in any general education program.

1. DIFFERENTIATION

Differentiation is proactive, built into lesson design from the start. It means tailoring instruction to students’ readiness, interests, or learning profiles. In reading, for example, Mount Paran Christian School teachers structure reading groups that allow students to engage with texts at varying levels of complexity while practicing shared comprehension strategies. In math, differentiation may look like tiered problem sets where all students tackle the same concept, but at appropriately challenging levels. Science teachers might differentiate through choice-based projects, allowing students to demonstrate understanding through experiments, models, or digital presentations. Differentiation is an overall strategy used to truly engage and develop learners of all levels and abilities without compromising the depth of the general education curriculum.

 

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2. INTERVENTION

Intervention goes a step further — it’s responsive rather than proactive. When data or observation reveals a student isn’t mastering foundational skills, teachers provide targeted small-group or one-on-one support. For example, the MPCS reading support team uses evidence-based phonics and fluency programs to build decoding skills, while in math, intervention sessions focus on reteaching key concepts through multisensory techniques. “We see intervention as temporary and empowering,” shares MPCS Directed Studies Teacher, Jenn Dennison. “It’s about giving students the tools to catch up and move forward confidently.”

 

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3. ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations are supports that help students access the general education curriculum without changing learning expectations. A student with an accommodation plan, for instance, might receive visual outlines before lectures or extended time on tests and projects. In social studies, teachers may provide audio versions of primary documents or guided note templates to support focus and comprehension. At schools with academic support programs like MPCS, students must have a full psychological evaluation detailing the nature and extent of a learning difference to receive accommodation services.

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4. MODIFICATIONS

Modifications, on the other hand, change what a student is expected to learn. These are only used when a student’s needs require an adjusted curriculum. A student working below grade level in reading might analyze shorter passages or simplified texts while still engaging with core themes and basic comprehension strategies. This is the most intensive curriculum adjustment model and is best accessed in the public school setting with trained special education teachers.

 

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At institutions such as Mount Paran Christian School, we work to ensure students are able to access their robust college preparatory curriculum while remaining rooted in relationship, guided by data, and grounded in mission to develop every learner’s God-given potential. MPCS Head of School, Dr. Matt Kerlin reminds our faculty: “We teach students, not subjects. When we honor how each child learns, we honor the Creator who made them.”

 

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Katie Ray Diaz is the Director of Student Support Services at MPCS.
Click here to learn more about exceptional learning at Mount Paran Christian School.
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