
321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What's the Difference?
From Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers by Sara Marye, Literacy Teacher, Elementary Teacher
August 20, 2026 · 13 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the key differences between differentiation and intervention in supporting struggling readers.
Episode 321: Differentiation vs. Intervention: What’s the Difference? Raise your hand if you have a struggling reader in your classroom. Now, keep your hand raised if you've ever wondered: Am I actually giving this student the support they need? Differentiation and intervention are two terms that get thrown around all the time, and they're often used interchangeably. But they serve two very different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you identify what your struggling readers actually need and make more intentional instructional decisions. In this episode, we're talking all things differentiation, intervention, and how to determine which type of support your struggling readers actually need . You'll learn how differentiation helps students access grade-level learning, while intervention targets the underlying skill gaps that may be preventing students from becoming stronger, more successful readers. In this episode, we'll discuss: The key difference between differentiation and intervention Practical differentiation strategies How to recognize when differentiation alone isn't enough How intervention targets specific foundational skill gaps How differentiation and…
People in this episode
Host: Sara Marye
Topics covered
- differentiation
- intervention
- support for struggling readers
- instructional decisions
- reading strategies
Keywords
- differentiation
- intervention
- struggling readers
- instructional strategies
- skill gaps
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Stellar Teacher Podcast
Products: The Stellar Intervention Toolkit
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