Amplify vs. Simplify: What's the Difference?

Here's what we know: multilingual learners are capable of the same complex thinking as their peers. The cognitive demand isn't the issue. The linguistic demand is.

Simplifying lowers both the thinking and the language. Students might complete tasks more easily, but they're not engaging with grade-level content.

Amplifying maintains the cognitive demand while strategically reducing linguistic barriers. Students do the same rigorous thinking as their peers, with targeted support that makes the language accessible.

This distinction matters because it shapes every instructional decision your teachers make.