📘 UDL + Diffit Toolkit

Support every learner by designing instruction that’s flexible, inclusive, and rooted in high expectations. With Diffit, you can quickly create leveled texts and scaffolded activities that remove barriers while keeping rigorous goals front and center.

Instead of retrofitting supports after the fact, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) asks us to plan for learner variability from the start. Diffit makes that possible by giving you multiple ways to present content, engage students, and let them show what they know. With these activities, you can reach diverse learners without creating separate materials for each student.

How to Use This Toolkit

Pick one or two Diffit activities to start. Reuse them across units so students become fluent in the structure while working with new content. Whether you’re planning for independent work, small groups, or whole-class instruction, Diffit helps you build routines that lower barriers and raise participation.

🔍 Multiple Means of Representation

Support how students perceive and comprehend information with visuals, simplified language, and leveled supports.

  • Reading Passage: Provide the same topic at multiple levels so all students access core content.
  • Reading with Image: Pair text and visuals to anchor meaning and reduce cognitive load.
  • Key Vocabulary with Images: Teach concepts explicitly with student-friendly visuals.
  • Visual Summary By Paragraph: Turn key ideas into sketches or icons to reinforce comprehension.

🧠 Multiple Means of Engagement

Boost relevance and motivation by giving students choice, clear goals, and chances to reflect.

  • Read and Annotate: Interactive markup keeps focus and sparks questions during reading.
  • 3-2-1 What I Learned: Quick reflections build ownership of learning.
  • Think Pair Share: Low-stakes talk helps students process before writing.
  • Group Discussion: Structured prompts sustain engagement through collaboration.

🗣️ Multiple Means of Action & Expression

Give students flexible ways to demonstrate understanding, matched to their strengths.

  • ACE Short Answer Question: Answer–Cite–Explain for clear, evidence-based products.
  • RACE Short Answer Question: Restate–Answer–Cite–Explain with built-in scaffolds.
  • CER Open Ended Question: Claim–Evidence–Reasoning to show deeper understanding.
  • Social Media Summary: Summarize a passage creatively in a concise, audience-aware way.

💡 Tips for Differentiating with UDL + Diffit

Small shifts, planned with all learners in mind, make a big difference.

  • Offer Reading Passage at several levels, then bring the class back together for a shared discussion prompt.
  • Front-load with Key Vocabulary with Images, then move into Main Idea (By Paragraph) for deeper processing.
  • Use Read and Annotate to focus attention, followed by Multiple Choice Questions for quick checks.
  • Provide choice among ACE, RACE, CER, or Social Media Summary so students can show learning in different ways.