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Recommended: The role of a teacher
The Role of the Teacher to Meet Individual Needs
There are various roles a teacher must fulfil on a day to day basis that form part of their responsibility as an educator. Evidently, differentiating a lesson to meet individual needs plays a significant role in their classroom. However, this ultimately takes place during planning for lessons, which in turn ensures that every child is challenged and provided with sufficient provision to ensure that they are stretched and educated to a high standard. Arguably, the Department for Education (DfE) places a lot of emphasis on this through their ‘Inclusion’ agenda on the National Curriculum. This demonstrates that the Government’s priority is to ensure that teachers are delivering the provision to allow their pupils to flourish and achieve with an ambitious approach. This in turn encourages the teacher to be innovative as well as resourceful in meeting individual needs, thus relying heavily on their reflectiveness as a teacher on how they can provide sufficient provision and improve on experiences gained from lessons that they’ve taught using differentiation.
When considering the role of the teacher, The National Curriculum takes prominence on what teachers must do to ensure they are meeting the standards set out by the Government. Evidently, in the recently updated edition of the National Curriculum, the Department for Education (2013) clearly states that Lessons should ensure that there are no obstacles to prevent pupils from achieving. The fact that this falls under Inclusion demonstrates the Department for Education’s attention to detail in ensuring that every child’s need within the classroom is being attended too, thus heavily relying on the teacher to put in the sufficient provisio...
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...rentiated approach. Arguably, the teacher has many roles and differentiating the day to meet individual needs is significant and in keeping with the demands of the National Curriculum that needs to be implemented.
Word Count: 1,616
Reference List
Claxton, G. (2008) What’s the Point of School?. London: Oneworld Publications
Department for Education (2013) The National Curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document. London: The Stationery Office
Eaude, T. (2011) Thinking Through Pedagogy for Primary and Early Years. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd.
Hayes, D. (2006) Primary Education: The Key Concepts. Oxon: Routledge
O’Brien, T. and Guiney, D. (2001) Differentiation in Teaching and Learning. London: Continuum
Times Educational Supplement (TES) (http://newteachers.tes.co.uk/content/using-differentiation-mixed-ability-classes) Accessed on 15/10/2014
In this essay I will outline the curricular systems for the 0-5 age group in England and Scotland. I will examine in detail the planning and assessment provisions of these systems which allow early years practitioners to gain insight into children's learning and to aid them in that regard. I will draw comparison between the practices of these two countries where possible, and provide criticism of each.
In terms of historical context, the National Curriculum was introduced into England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary state schools following the Education Reform Act 1988 (DES, 1988). From its establishment, the curriculum was then divided into its primary (Key Stage One and Two) and secondary (Key Stage Three and Four) form.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum in England differs greatly in structure and content to the Te Whariki curriculum in New Zealand; this therefore makes for an interesting comparison. The EYFS was introduced in England, in 2008, by the DfE as a framework that ‘sets the standards for learning, development and care of children from birth to five’ (DfE, 2012). Alternatively, Te Whariki was founded in New Zealand, in 1996, based on the aspirations for children ‘to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society’ (Ministry of Education, 1996). Throughout this essay, the EYFS and Te Whariki curriculums will be compared and contrasted to give a greater understanding of the similarities and differences between England and New Zealand regarding their beliefs about young children’s needs.
A teacher’s life is a collection of varied experiences and is full of invention, imposition and determination. Teaching is always a teacher’s own. Ayers sees the pieces of his own teaching everywhere. He then recounts the story of playing a Spy game with a child who, when he spied something brown, proudly pointed out herself. She had been educated to admire and proud of her difference. In the second chapter, Seeing the Student, argues that teaching requires seeing a child as a whole and a unique individual as the teacher interacts. It also presents the story of his youngest child, Chesa, who had a dogged determination while his family was worried of his stubbornness which might raise a problem. He then relates a story of working with ten-year-old kids, asking them to describe themselves to reveal their characters to their class and the teacher. Most teachers see and label their students which deprives them from the class. Ayers argues that teaching means going beyond labels. In the third chapter, he argues that one of the main aspect of teaching is creating or constructing a laboratory that promotes learning. This entails careful and thoughtful planning to enhance student learning, accommodate and celebrate one’s diverse
It is an educator’s job to embrace and acknowledge the rich diversity all the children collectively bring to the classroom, while understanding that the children do not need to be treated the same because they are not the same as each other, but be respected and accepted for their differences. Inclusion is an essential; plank in the broad platform of social justice and raising achievement is a goal which all educators much hold for their pupils, It is important that early year professionals are aware of all different ways in which society constructs (Neaum 2010) this involves taking account children’s social cultural and linguistic diversity and including learning style, family circumstances, location in curriculum decision making process so all children are recognised and valued (Nutbrown and Clough 2006)
The students in our classrooms, both special education and general education classrooms, require individualized education to reach their full potential. Each child’s potential is different just as each child’s road to reach it is different. Our job as teachers is to be there for the student’s to help them reach their potential through their own unique way.
Contemplating on the idea of differentiated classroom, it can be seen that it involves the collaborative attempt of both the teacher and students to create a classroom environment that embraces diversity and differences. With these differences, it helps create the realization towards finding new ways to improve the level of appreciation and learning of content. With these, it helps the educator determine the patterns or methods of instruction that can best apply and supplement the needs of students in the classroom. From this perspective, I do believe that this serves as an important foundation for shaping a differentiated classroom.
Inclusion within education refers to how practitioners can enhance, develop and design educational settings such as activities, programs and the way that the classroom is set out to ensure that all children are able to participate, learn and achieve together. Inclusion can also be seen as an area that lies within politics, including a variety of participants. Such as, teachers, parents, and the government. (Vaughan, 2004). These groups of people will all have a different interpretation of what inclusion means to them and how they think it the topic should be approached. Therefore it can be difficult to judge whether the current system for inclusion is effective or not. The department for educations view is that Inclusion is not only about the type of school that the child attends but it is mainly depended on the quality of the child’s experience. I.e. how the child is supported and how well the child is achieving (DfES, 2003). Some mainstream schools believe that if a child who has special educational needs is not able to function in a regular classroom setting then that child would be better suited in a special school. Whereas this contradicts with the whole idea of ‘inc...
Slee (2001) argues that inclusive schooling demands schools to recognise all types of difference from disabilities, ethnicity, gender, class and sexuality. Furthermore, he challenges schools to accept difference, to encourage and promote flexibility thus benefiting not only the curriculum and pedagogy, but the community and students themselves (Slee, 2001).
Veale, F. (2013). Early years for Level 4 & 5 and the Foundation Degree. London: Hodder Education.
When teachers differentiate their lesson, the students are more engaged to learn. Students have some choice in their learning activities, which motivates students to want to learn and also puts more learning responsibility on the students. Some students may prefer to work alone or in groups and some students like to be hands-on. By differentiating the lesson, all students’ needs are being met. “Differentiated Instruction gives students a range of ways to access curriculum, instruction and assessment. DI engages students to interact and participate in the classroom in a richer way. It is based on the assumption that all students differ in their learning styles, strengths, needs and abilities and that classroom activities should be adapted to meet these differences
Waters, M. (2013) The new secondary curriculum. What has Changed and why? London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
During this semester in the course human development and learning, the class has been learning about a range of ways that children develop and learn. This also develops the understanding of the human growth process in terms of different learning styles and what teaching strategies can be used. Learning about a child’s learning in primary school is vital in being able to successfully develop a range of strategies to benefit both student and teachers learning. Communication strategies to support learning, strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in learning, and organisation of the classroom and providing directions to learners managing challenging behaviour are all significantly important to uphold in
The role and responsibilities of a teacher is very complex. Teachers are responsible for making sure their learners acquire the knowledge they need, but also achieve their qualification by the end of the course in a safe learning environment, so they have the skills and experience they need to start their careers. To achieve that goal a teacher must be creative, professional, flexible and knowledgeable enough to deal with daily challenges and find different ways to help their learners needs. Establishing a safe and stimulating environment for learners, creating mutual respect and set goals that stretch and challenge learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
Wagner is in support of inclusive education, but believes that “Placement in regular education alone does not ensure success.” (Wagner, 1996). It is important to understand the individual needs of children included in mainstream education, as well as their strengths and weaknesses (Harrison, 1998). Wagner also advises the use of teacher aids, saying that “At least partial support of an aide or teacher is usually necessary for optimal academic and social progress.” (Wagner, 1999). Wagner designed an ‘Inclusion Model’, as seen in the following diagram: