“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
-Ignacio Estrada
My portfolio's questions is: "How can teachers effectively teach our diverse students and learners?"
Every person has different learning types, some have learning disabilities or limitations, some are English Language Learners, some are faster are slower than other students, etc. As teachers, we should know about these things, look for signs in students, communicate with them, their parents, and strive to understand their situations. Once we know that, we can learn about how we as teachers can teach in a way that they can learn.
" Effective partnerships between educators and families are grounded in mutual respect and ongoing communication. Toward these ends, teachers can validate the contributions of families, diversify their methods of communication (e.g., parent–teacher–student conferences, newsletters, e-mail, and the telephone), and encourage parents to become—and stay—actively involved in their children’s education." (pg. 98) As a teacher, I will set up emails, use Class Dojo, and use my own personal website to try to set up communication between myself and my students parents to help to create connections so that we can best help our students.
"Cognitive science significantly advances our understanding of children’s cognitive development." (pg. 269). As a teacher, I will also do my very best to understand each of my student's cognitive development patters, and see in what ways I can support them and effectively teach them.
"Create a warm and inclusive atmosphere at school. Children learn most effectively when they are calm, happy, or excited about an activity. Traditions that begin and end the day, including greeting students by their preferred names, enhance a sense of belonging. Establishing pleasant routines, such as a late-afternoon meeting in which children take turns telling about their day, encourages self-reflection, self-expression, and respect for one another. Clear expectations that no one should be teased or mocked help children settle down and concentrate on school work. The classroom itself, with attractive plants and decorations, a child-friendly organization (e.g., with labeled buckets for supplies), age-appropriate furniture, and a secluded area with pillows and rugs, invites children to relax and focus on learning." (pg. 426). The main goal, is to help students to feel welcomed, loved and supported in a learning environment that they can flourish in. I will do what I can, to help with that.
Other Class Resources: While these do not have specific information from this class, they are helpful to this topic of how we can help our diverse learners and students.
Here is a lesson plan and layout for a book called "Frindle". I designed this lesson in a previous class, but there are students with certain situations that I was able to apply to the lesson. These are the types of examples and ways that as teachers, we can help our diverse students.
This is a case study about English Language Learners stereo-types and is analyzing what we as teachers can do.
This is a PowerPoint about Emotional Disturbances which is a high incidence disability and talks about what it is, and how we can help within the classroom.