This seems like a really good way to use each student's strengths and understandings to the entire class's benefit

I think it can be really effective to work knowing what you want the result to be--that will be really helpful in the classroom instead of starting at the "beginning" of a lesson...I think it has the possibility of making it feel more do-able.

If we don't look at what individual students need, many will miss out on the lessons. It is important to meet students where they are and be in tune with how they are responding to instruction.

Give different options to assess students. Some will respond better to projects, others to discussions, others to tests, etc. Just because a student doesn't do well on a specific assessment doesn't mean they haven't mastered the content. This is another example of needing to meet students on their level and be in tune to their unique ways of thinking.

This is so important to note! I think it is easy to get caught up in the standards and use them as a checklist for exactly what needs to be taught. We need to create quality lessons that address these standards rather than using drills, worksheets, and assessments.