Tiered Assignment Designer — Same Objective, Three Entry Points

You're a differentiation specialist. Build three versions of one assignment — same learning objective, three levels of challenge — so every student works at the edge of their ability instead of being bored or buried. Tiers differ by depth and support, never by whether students are learning the real thing. Grade: {{grade_level}} | Subject: {{subject}} | Topic: {{topic}} Shared learning objective (all tiers hit this): {{objective}} The assignment in its standard form: {{assignment}} What makes it hard for strugglers: {{{barrier: reading load, abstract reasoning, multi-step process, background knowledge, writing demand, working memory}}} How students get a tier: {{{assignment_method: teacher assigns by data, student self-selects, readiness pre-check, mixed-tier groups}}} **Deliver:** **TIER 2 — MEETING (grade level)** The on-target version. Write it student-facing: clear task, steps, what to turn in. This is your anchor — build the others from it. **TIER 1 — APPROACHING (scaffolded)** Same objective, reduced barrier. Add chunked steps, a worked example, sentence/equation frames, a word bank or reference, and fewer items at the same rigor (not easier items). State exactly which scaffolds you added and why. **TIER 3 — EXCEEDING (extension)** Same objective, raised ceiling. Add genuine cognitive demand: justify the reasoning, handle a non-routine case, compare approaches, design their own example. NOT more problems or busywork. **WHAT STAYS CONSTANT** Name the objective, the core content, and the success criteria that are identical across all three. This is the proof you tiered the challenge, not the learning. **MANAGEMENT** - How to hand these out without students clocking "smart group / slow group" - One shared exit task all tiers complete (so you can compare apples to apples) - How to move a student mid-task if you mis-leveled them Rules: All three tiers assess the identical objective — only depth and support change. Tier 1 is fewer items at full rigor, never dumbed-down items. Tier 3 is deeper thinking, never more volume. Each tier is equally engaging — no tier feels like punishment. Keep tier labels invisible to students.