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Lesson 5 of 15

AI for Lesson Planning & Content

Creating Differentiated Content

5 min read

The Differentiation Challenge

Every classroom has learners at different levels. In a typical class:

  • Some students read 2-3 grade levels above
  • Some read at grade level
  • Some read 1-2 grade levels below
  • Some are English Language Learners (ELL)
  • Some have learning differences (IEPs, 504s)

Creating materials for each level traditionally takes hours. AI changes this equation dramatically.

Understanding Reading Levels

Before creating differentiated content, understand the measurement systems:

Lexile Measures:

Level Description Example
BR-400L Beginning Reader - Grade 2 Early chapter books
400L-600L Grades 2-3 Magic Tree House
600L-800L Grades 4-5 Harry Potter (1-3)
800L-1000L Grades 6-8 Many YA novels
1000L-1200L Grades 9-10 Classic literature
1200L+ Grades 11+ Academic texts

Grade Level Equivalents:

  • 3rd grade reading = approximately 500L-700L
  • 7th grade reading = approximately 850L-1000L
  • 10th grade reading = approximately 1050L-1150L

Diffit: The Differentiation Specialist

Diffit (diffit.me) is purpose-built for creating reading-level appropriate content:

How Diffit Works:

  1. Input Content:

    • Paste existing text
    • Enter a topic
    • Provide a URL
    • Upload a PDF or image

  2. Select Target Level:

    • Choose Lexile range
    • Select grade level
    • Specify ELL accommodations

  3. Generate:

    • Adapted text at target level
    • Vocabulary definitions
    • Comprehension questions
    • Summary versions

Step-by-Step Example:

Original Text (10th Grade Level):

"The mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, is responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through the process of cellular respiration. This organelle contains its own DNA and is believed to have originated from ancient prokaryotic organisms through endosymbiosis."

Diffit Output for 5th Grade:

"Mitochondria are tiny parts inside your cells that make energy. Think of them as little power plants! They take the food you eat and turn it into energy your body can use. Scientists think mitochondria used to be separate tiny living things that joined with cells long ago."

With Questions Generated:

  1. What do mitochondria do for the cell?
  2. Why are mitochondria called "power plants"?
  3. What do mitochondria use to make energy?

Creating Multi-Level Materials

Here's a workflow for creating materials at three levels:

Level 1: Below Grade Level (Scaffolded)

  • Simplified vocabulary
  • Shorter sentences
  • Visual supports
  • Key terms defined inline
  • Graphic organizers

Level 2: At Grade Level (Standard)

  • Grade-appropriate vocabulary
  • Standard complexity
  • Some scaffolding
  • Discussion questions

Level 3: Above Grade Level (Extended)

  • Advanced vocabulary maintained
  • Original complexity preserved
  • Extension questions
  • Connections to advanced concepts

Example: Civil War Causes

Level 1 (5th Grade Reading):

"The Northern and Southern states disagreed about slavery. The North wanted to end slavery. The South wanted to keep slavery for their farms. They also disagreed about whether the national government or state governments should have more power. These fights led to the Civil War in 1861."

Level 2 (7th Grade Reading):

"Tensions between the Northern and Southern states had been building for decades before the Civil War. The primary conflict centered on slavery—the North's growing abolitionist movement clashed with the South's agricultural economy dependent on enslaved labor. Additionally, disputes over states' rights versus federal authority intensified sectional divisions, ultimately leading to secession and war in 1861."

Level 3 (10th Grade Reading):

"The antebellum period witnessed escalating sectional tensions driven by fundamentally incompatible economic systems and ideological frameworks. While Northern industrialization fostered growing abolitionist sentiment, the South's plantation economy remained inextricably linked to the institution of slavery. Constitutional debates regarding the supremacy clause, nullification theory, and the extension of slavery into new territories ultimately proved irreconcilable, precipitating Southern secession and the outbreak of hostilities in 1861."

ELL Adaptations

AI tools can help create English Language Learner materials:

Key ELL Adaptations:

  • Cognates highlighted (words similar in other languages)
  • Visual vocabulary supports
  • Simpler sentence structures
  • Reduced idiomatic expressions
  • Key terms in native language (when possible)

Diffit ELL Features:

  • Vocabulary at lower Lexile
  • Visual vocabulary integration
  • Simpler syntax options
  • Translation support for key terms

Additional ELL Considerations:

  • Cultural context explanations
  • Background knowledge building
  • Graphic organizer support
  • Oral language components

Beyond Reading Level: Other Differentiation

AI can help with other differentiation types:

Differentiation by Interest: Generate the same content through different lenses:

  • Sports analogies for athletes
  • Music connections for musicians
  • Gaming references for gamers
  • Nature examples for outdoor enthusiasts

Differentiation by Learning Style:

  • Text-based explanations
  • Visual diagrams and infographics
  • Step-by-step procedures
  • Discussion-based activities

Differentiation by Process:

  • Structured step-by-step for some
  • Open-ended exploration for others
  • Collaborative options
  • Independent work paths

Using MagicSchool for Differentiation

MagicSchool's "Text Leveler" tool:

  1. Select "Text Leveler" from tools
  2. Paste your content
  3. Choose target reading level
  4. Generate leveled version
  5. Review and edit as needed

MagicSchool Differentiation Tools:

  • Text Leveler (adjust reading level)
  • Vocabulary List Generator (by level)
  • Graphic Organizer Creator
  • IEP Goal Writer (for special education)

Workflow: Differentiating a Unit

Day 1: Create Base Content

  1. Write or find grade-level content
  2. Generate leveled versions using Diffit
  3. Create vocabulary lists for each level

Day 2: Create Assessments

  1. Generate questions at each level
  2. Create graphic organizers for scaffolding
  3. Design extension activities for advanced learners

Day 3: Prepare Materials

  1. Format for distribution
  2. Create answer keys
  3. Plan groupings and timing

Time Investment:

  • Traditional: 4-6 hours per unit
  • AI-Assisted: 1-2 hours per unit

Maintaining Rigor While Differentiating

The Misconception: Differentiation means making things easier.

The Reality: Differentiation means making things accessible while maintaining high expectations.

Key Principles:

  1. Same learning objectives, different paths
  2. All students engage with complex ideas
  3. Scaffolding is temporary support, not permanent lowering
  4. Extension is depth, not just more work

Example of Maintaining Rigor:

Learning Objective: Analyze causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution

Below-Level Access:

  • Simplified text, but still analyzing cause-effect
  • Graphic organizer to structure thinking
  • Vocabulary support

At-Level Standard:

  • Grade-level text
  • Written analysis
  • Discussion of multiple causes

Above-Level Extension:

  • Primary sources
  • Compare to modern technological revolution
  • Evaluate historian perspectives

All levels engage in analysis—the cognitive demand stays high.

Common Differentiation Mistakes

Mistake 1: Only Differentiating Down Advanced learners need differentiation too. Use AI to create extension materials, not just simplified versions.

Mistake 2: Making It Obvious Students shouldn't feel labeled. Use folders labeled by color or number, not "Easy/Hard."

Mistake 3: Over-Differentiating Creating 5+ versions is unsustainable. Aim for 2-3 well-designed levels.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Student Agency Sometimes students know what they need. Offer choice when appropriate.

Mistake 5: Differentiating Content Only Also differentiate process (how students work) and product (how they show learning).

Key Takeaways

  1. Diffit specializes in creating reading-level appropriate content quickly
  2. Three levels (below, at, above grade) is usually sufficient
  3. ELL adaptations require more than just simpler vocabulary
  4. Maintain rigor by keeping learning objectives high while changing access
  5. Differentiate content, process, and product—not just reading level
  6. Save time by generating multiple versions, but always review
  7. Give students agency in choosing appropriate materials when possible

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