---

Differentiation That Works: How to Break Down Objectives + Practical Tools for CVC & Math Success

Differentiation is the foundation of special education—it’s how we make learning meaningful, accessible, and achievable for every student. In ESN classrooms, resource rooms, inclusive settings, and early childhood programs, we adapt materials so students can engage with grade-level skills at their level of access, independence, and communication.

Today, I’m sharing an easy, teacher-tested way to break down objectives and how my differentiated CVC word and math task cards fit perfectly into that process.

Whether you teach or support in a special education classroom, or are building your intervention toolkit, this guide will help you create lessons that work for all learners.

---

Why Differentiation Matters

Differentiation isn’t about giving different goals—it’s about giving students different ways to reach the same goal. When we break down objectives into smaller steps, we create a clear learning pathway where every student can participate and succeed.

This is especially important for early literacy and math skills like:

• CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) word reading
• Beginning sounds
• Counting
• Basic addition
• Early subtraction

These skills don’t just appear. They’re built step-by-step.

---

How to Break Down an Objective (The Simple, Practical Way)

Here’s the exact process I use to differentiate reading and math in my ESN classroom.

---

1. Start With the Core Learning Objective

What do you want the student to learn?

Examples:

• “Students will read CVC words.”
• “Students will count, add, or subtract within 10.”

This is your anchor.

---

2. Identify the Prerequisite Skills

What must students know before they can reach the goal?

For CVC words, this may include:

• Letter identification
• Letter sounds
• Choosing from a field of two

For math:

• Counting objects
• Recognizing numerals
• Understanding quantities
• Matching identical numbers

Each of these becomes a mini-objective you can teach, track, and celebrate.

---

3. Create Levels of Access (This Is Where Differentiation Happens!)

Every student works on the same skill, but with different supports:

Level 1: Access

• Match identical pictures
• Match number to number
• Errorless CVC picture match
• Count with built-in visual support

Level 2: Supported

• Beginning sound match
• Missing letter cards
• Choose the correct sum from two options
• Picture-supported subtraction

Level 3: Independent

• Read or build CVC words
• Write the missing letter
• Solve addition/subtraction equations independently

Level 4: Extended

• Write the full word
• Solve word problems
• Explain thinking
• Generalize skills to new contexts

This layered approach is exactly why differentiated task cards are so powerful—you can meet everyone where they are without creating new materials every week.

---

4. Offer Multiple Response Modes

Students should be able to show what they know without being limited by communication or motor demands.

Options include:

• Pointing or tapping
• Velcro pieces
• Clothespins
• Dry erase markers
• AAC device selections
• Verbal responses

Every mode leads to the same learning.

---

5. Build Data Into Your Levels

Each step of the objective is a data point.
Students move from:
matching → identifying → solving → generalizing
at their own pace.

This is where your CVC task cards and differentiated math task cards make it easy to track progress across levels without changing the objective.

---

How My CVC & Math Task Cards Support Differentiation

CVC Word Task Cards Include:

• Errorless matching
• Beginning sound match
• Missing beginning, middle, or ending sound
• Word-to-picture match
• Build-the-word with Velcro letters
• Read and write options
  Perfect for UFLI-aligned lessons, small groups, intervention, and ESN classrooms.

Math Task Cards Include:

• Counting sets
• Identifying numbers
• Beginning addition with visuals
• Differentiated sums within 10
• Subtraction with picture supports
• Velcro number pieces for low-writing classrooms

Start students at counting → move to addition → transition to subtraction.
Same materials, multiple levels of access.

---

Why This Works

Breaking down objectives + differentiated task cards creates:

• Consistent routines
• Predictable practice
• Multiple entry points
• True inclusion
• Data you can use

And most importantly—
students experience success because they have a pathway, not a barrier.

Check out my full list of adapted materials at my TPT Store:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/miss-j-modifies

I continue to build it every week!