When differentiation was part of my classroom instruction, creating a learning environment with clear expectations was very helpful. One expectation I held for myself was creating opportunities for students to practice "productive struggle" in math. While the level of scaffolding varied based on readiness, I made sure not to take away the challenge or integrity of a math task. Productive struggle wasn’t about not helping or leaving students to figure it out on their own. It was about helping them develop the ability to persevere, even when the math became difficult.
