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How to manage diversity in a classroom
How to manage diversity in a classroom
Reflections about differentiated instruction
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Elementary teachers face the difficult task of providing meaningful learning experiences that challenge individual students at just the right readiness level for learning to occur. Yet reality is that each student enters the classroom with a unique readiness level, prior learning experiences and exclusive interests. A single learning task assigned by the teacher is far from fitting the wide variety of student needs found in todays elementary classrooms. It is difficult to provide learning experiences for students at different levels of readiness. When students are working on tasks at their level of readiness, direction and instructions are specific to the tasks students are completing. Students must have a sense of autonomy to complete a classroom …show more content…
Students should experience a sense of ownership when they are able to seek and choose challenging learning experiences (Tomlinson, 2001). In order to provide students with choice at their level of readiness differentiation must occur in the classroom. Author and expert in practical differentiation strategies, Tomlinson (2001), defines a differentiated classroom as one where, “the teacher proactively plans and carries out varied approaches to content, process, and product in anticipation and response to student differences in readiness, interest, and learning needs” (p.7). When students work independently or with a partner on a task specific to their level of readiness the teacher is differentiating process. The goal of the teacher is to challenge students beyond their “comfort zone.” When the student is in the zone of proximal development the student is able to learn from a competent teacher, peer, or when the teacher provides …show more content…
Differentiated menus allow students choice when committing to a task or taking on a learning experience. Differentiated menus provide tiered assignments all leading toward the same objects that allow students to choose how they will learn and demonstrate their learning. Diane Heacox (2012) an author and expert in providing tools that allow teachers to differentiate in their own classrooms defines tiered assignments as, “…differentiated learning tasks and projects that you develop based on your diagnosis of students’ needs” (p.97). Tomlinson (2001) views tiered assignments as a powerful strategy essential within a differentiated classroom to enable students to learn at their appropriate readiness level. When tiered assignments are provided they are not harder or easier’ they are simply avenues for students to achieve objectives at an appropriate level. Heacox (2012), recognizes tiered assignments as a meaningful tool for teachers to use after a student’s ability level has been identified. As a result, the goal of tiered assignments is to reach student needs by providing a good “match” between student needs and instruction (Heacox, 2012). As a result, tiered assignments within a differentiated menu allow for student choice at an appropriate level of
This essay will discuss the terms differentiated learnnig and personalised learning as well as highlight how these two forms of learning can be implemented in the classroom. Differentiated learning can be defined as an instruction that is an individualised process of teaching and learning that is based on the learners’ prior knowledge, abilities, development readiness, interests and learning styles (Grierson & Woloshyn, 2012). On the other hand personalised learning involves creating an individual learning plan to meet the needs of a particular student. In addition personalised learning does not mean teaching each child individually but trying to cater in several ways for the variety of children you have in the class (Dean, 2006).
For this lesson I still need to learn how to analyze instructional goals and differentiated instructional strategies. When I transfer to a university to further my education; in my educational classes I will learn about this. In addition to student teaching, I will be learning how to handle future situations with the appropriate grade level. Lastly, I will ask for advice from art teachers and teachers in general to find out more information on differentiated instructional strategies.
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.
Preschoolers are constantly being bombarded with new concepts and information on a daily basis. Many of these young learners have not acquired all of the necessary skills to work independently without support from their parents, teacher, and even their peers. By using tiered activities as well as flexible grouping, young learners will acquire the key concepts of a lesson or activity. Allowing learners to work in learning centers that scaffold materials to reach all of their
Personalizing learning for students takes the idea of differentiating instruction to fit the needs of your students is vitally important to fostering an environment that makes ...
Currently I am co teaching a fifth grade class of eleven students. The class is a general education class with four students who have disabilities. My main focus for the class is teaching the human body system and implementing writing into the class. Differentiation of instruction is something we need to show that we are implanting in our classroom. There are four levels of differentiation of instruction; content, process, product, and affect. What we teach, how we teach it; how students demonstrate what they have learned, and how students feel about what they are learning is what DI is about. Educators need to start by choosing the best content that will help all of their students. The content not only has to relate to the subject matter, but need to connect to their culture. The process is also a crucial component of DI and Santamaria feels that the best thing to do for the students is having them work in groups, but Utley took an individual approach to DI. Santamaria feels that cooperative learning stimulates learning. The last component to DI is the product. This could be as simple as allowing the students to present their final product
The next task these groups were asked to complete was to test the children’s ability to self-teach. Two sessions were conducted. The first session took place a week before the sec...
Effective teachers evaluate their classroom environment in comparison to their students’ academic, functional, behavior and social needs. After taking this into consideration, the teacher should make appropriate accommodations and/or modifications to ensure all student success in the classroom. Despite a teacher’s highest expectation for students, students who require a more individualized approach will always be of concern. The INCLUDE strategy is provided for these students who require an individualized approach. INCLUDE allows teachers a strategy for making adaptations or accommodations based on individual student needs, along with the teacher’s expectations in the classroom. (Friend & Bursuck, 2006)
Kindergarten is an important milestone for young children. When children enter kindergarten, there are a variety of children that are from different backgrounds homes and preschools that need a wide range of support in kindergarten readiness. In either scenario parents would like their children ready for kindergarten. Kindergarten Readiness are specific skills and requirements for children who will be entering kindergarten. According to (Graue 1993), kindergarten readiness is a complex idea linked to meanings and factors, chronological age, development stage, specific academics and social skills, and home school connections. Each state has a kindergarten transition plan, checklist and what is expected from the children before they enter kindergarten.
In order to give myself and my students the best chance at success in the classroom I will attempt to find out as much as I can about each one of them before I set up the learning environment. Current and comprehensive information on students’ likes, dislikes, experiences, skill, understanding and development is imperative to create the best possible learning environment (Daniels & Perry, 2003). Communicating openly and often with stakeholders to help gather good information requires positive collaboration with families, staff and most importantly the students themselves. Frequent, targeted assessment before, during and after learning also provides data that supports the design of teaching and learning experiences offering each student opportunities to be challenged and moved forward (Koppang, 2004). Although time and effort are necessary to obtain this information, it may help to prevent mismatched or misdirected teaching efforts that waste valuable resources, contribute ...
All effective educators need to find ways to motivate their students. The kids that fill our classrooms have different strengths and weaknesses. It is critical that teachers recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their students so they can use the right classroom management strategies to motivate their kids. In this particular case, the student named Jodie is inattentive and uninterested and neither the teacher intern or classroom teacher have a clue how to handle this situation. Ms. Marcia Thomas, who is the young intern feels that Jodie is just a problem child that lacks motivation and there is nothing she can do for this particular student. Ms. Thomas and the lead teacher Ms. Egan both lack the needed classroom management strategies that are necessary to motivate and engage students in a positive learning environment.
...ust take place. First, informal assessments must occur to understand the learning level of students and skill areas needing to improve. Using interest surveys help in planning for activities to keep students engaged in the learning process. Next, assignments must match the student’s learning and instructional level. In addition, incorporating flexible grouping by learning styles, interests, and intelligences affords the learner a better chance of success. Finally, differentiated instruction is slowly leaning towards personal learning where students choose their own paths through the curriculum reported Richardson (2012b). In my opinion, this will be the future of education, as classrooms of this nature will cultivate self-paced, self-interested, and self-motivated students who fully take on the responsibility of their education, while doing so alongside the teacher.
Throughout the course of the lesson, it may take multiple sessions before the student is ready to independently practice the skills learned. Anticipated lesson duration is included with each lesson plan provided in this instructional unit. Madeline Hunter’s Seven Steps of Instruction includes stating the objectives, anticipatory set, teacher input, modeling, checking for understanding, guided practice, and independent practice (Hunter, 2004). For the purpose of this instructional unit, input and modeling have been condensed into a streamlined event; as well has, checking for understanding and guided practice. This form of lesson planning is preferred within the Elkin City Schools district and lends itself to the creation of engaging lessons.
A kindergarten class offers a more conventional and integrated learning than the preschool environment. A kindergarten teacher will still stimulate their student’s curiosity about the world around them while getting them used to a structured classroom setting. They are...
The least recognized, most important people in this world are the educators. They must work hard toward inventing a method to help each individual student “be all they can be!” Teachers must try to stimulate students to create a hunger for learning and to expand their success in life. Teachers should be obligated to the need for the student’s individuality. To be able to teach targeting to the students’ needs will make a difference not only in the student but also in the future of our society. Today’s students are tomorrow’s future.