Support Every Learner

Ongoing

Unlike programs that route differentiation into alternate activities, PhD Science integrates support directly into each lesson. Every lesson includes Differentiation sidebar notes with in-the-moment strategies for students with physical or cognitive challenges, students above or below grade level, and English learners.

Using Sidebar Notes
Each lesson contains Check for Understanding prompts, Differentiation notes, English Language Development strategies, and Extension suggestions—all integrated into the lesson flow. Read these before you teach so you can plan for scaffolds proactively rather than reactively.

Supporting English Learners
PhD Science develops conceptual understanding before introducing precise terminology—the opposite of the vocabulary-first approach. This benefits all learners and especially English learners. Sentence frames, word banks, collaborative conversation routines, and grouping strategies are embedded throughout. Appendix D in each module Teacher Edition lists domain-specific words, general academic words, and Spanish cognates.

Universal Design for Learning
The curriculum provides multiple means of engagement (phenomena, student questions, collaborative sense making), representation (models, images, graphics, graphic organizers), and action and expression (writing, speaking, drawing, modeling, annotating, gesturing). Use these built-in supports to meet students where they are.