Carol Ann Tomlinson Gives an Updated Look at Differentiated Instruction in ASCD's New DVD Series

Alexandria, Va. ASCD has released a pair of professional development DVDs that offers teachers guidance on what, how, and why to differentiate in their classrooms. In these DVDs, The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of Elementary Learners and The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of Secondary Learners, Carol Ann Tomlinson lays the groundwork for bringing differentiated instruction into the classroom to refine the work teachers already do. Through Tomlinson’s interviews and interactions with teachers, these videos demonstrate practical, real-world examples from elementary and high school classrooms.

“When I wrote the second edition of The Differentiated Classroom, I had the opportunity to reflect on the many changes in education over the past 15 years and develop new ways to make differentiated instruction successful in today’s schools,” said Tomlinson. “I hope that teachers will see the real-life classroom examples in these videos and feel encouraged to try the techniques and strategies with their own students.”

Each DVD will help teachers learn how to divide their time, resources, and efforts to effectively instruct students of various backgrounds, interests, and readiness and skill levels. Each also includes bonus content on how a differentiated classroom makes it easier to implement the Common Core State Standards. Take a look at the videos below for a sneak peek at these two DVDs.

  1. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of Elementary Learners―An elementary classroom teacher works with his students on a growth mindset, and Tomlinson describes its importance in this excerpt.
  2. The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of Secondary Learners―A secondary classroom teacher talks to her students about the “glows and grows” from a small-group discussion in this excerpt.

The DVDs, which are meant for use in professional learning communities and schools, can be purchased as a set or individually.

For further guidance on implementing differentiated instruction, teachers can read The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners, 2nd Edition. In this book, Tomlinson builds on her writing, instruction, and observations over the last 15 years to update her concepts and strategies for a 21st century learning environment.

Learn more about Carol Ann Tomlinson and her work by visiting ascd.org/carolanntomlinson.

Featured

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.