KSA #5 Teachers identify and respond to learner differences
Identifying learner differences
I believe that to maximize the potential of students in the classroom you must fist get to know who they are in terms of their interests, learning styles and learning preferences. With this information, you can plan lessons that are able to reach a variety of students. This is extremely important to me as I am aware that no two students are a like, yet I believe that all students deserve an equal opportunity to succeed. Once I refer to the program of studies to gather the outcomes that need to be addressed, I always then refer to my students' learning needs to begin planning lessons and learning activities.
The following are examples of different ways that I have created or adapted to identify learner differences in the classroom.
The following are examples of different ways that I have created or adapted to identify learner differences in the classroom.
Interest Inventory Assessments
Using interest inventory assessments can be very beneficial in the classroom. Using concepts that students are interested in to teach curriculum allows students to make connections to information that they already know, allowing them to understand the information more quickly (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011) In addition, many studies have shown that when students find something interesting they are more likely to explore the concept further, making deeper connections with the content (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011).
- Quote from my rationale for Interest Inventory Assessments
Learning Style Assessments
Using results from learning style surveys in the classroom can help the teacher differentiate by teaching in different ways, according to the students’ needs. Research shows that people learn differently and often learn more effectively when content is taught in a way that mimics their particular approach to learning (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011). So, teaching students in the way that they learn best can potentially increase their understanding and allow them to make deeper connections in their brain with the given content.
- Quote from my rationale for Learning Style Assessments
Multiple Intelligence's Assessments
Administering multiple intelligence surveys in the classroom can give a teacher some helpful information for differentiation. Teachers could incorporate students’ preferred intelligence to teach them a more difficult concept that they are not grasping. Additionally, this information could be use to target weaknesses in students’ intelligences and work on them to help students develop them; allowing them to enter society with a well-rounded set of intelligences.
- Quote from my rationale for Multiple Intelligence's Assessments
Responding to Learner Differences
Identifying learner differences and responding to them are two separate entities. It is a somewhat simple process to collect the information, but to actually use it and implement the information within your lessons is a tougher feat. As I am still new to the profession, this is a challenging task for me. While responding to learner differences is a challenge for me, I recognize its importance that it holds within the classroom, and therefore will consistently work to ensure that I incorporate it in my practice.
The following are lesson plans that I have created which incorporate different responses to learner differences.
The following are lesson plans that I have created which incorporate different responses to learner differences.
RAFT Activity
What is being differentiated? Process and Product
How is it being differentiated? Interest
What is being differentiated? Process and Product
How is it being differentiated? Interest
Tiered Learning Activities
What is being differentiated? Process
How is it being differentiated? Readiness
What is being differentiated? Process
How is it being differentiated? Readiness