Which teaching strategy is described when a teacher designs tasks aligning with student skills and regular checks for understanding are done?

The strategy of differentiated instruction is characterized by tailoring educational experiences to meet the diverse needs of individual students. When a teacher designs tasks that align with each student’s specific skills, they are ensuring that the learning opportunities are appropriate and relevant, which helps engage students at their respective levels of understanding and ability. Differentiated instruction also involves regular checks for understanding, allowing the teacher to monitor student progress and adjust instruction as needed. This ongoing assessment helps to identify areas where students may need more support or advanced challenges, making the learning process more effective and personalized.

In contrast, project-based learning focuses on students engaging in projects that often culminate in a final product, which may not inherently align with individual skills. Inquiry-based learning emphasizes the exploration of questions and problems led by the students, which can vary widely in effectiveness depending on the teacher's role. Direct instruction is more focused on explicit teaching of concepts and skills, which does not provide the same level of individualization as differentiated instruction does. Thus, differentiated instruction best encapsulates the essence of aligning tasks with student capabilities and periodically assessing their understanding.