DEVELOPMENTAL APPROPRIATENESS
Reflecting on Developmental Appropriateness.pdfI am nurtured in my continual growth.
We are not developing in the same way as our students, but developmental appropriateness for a teacher is about access to the supports we require throughout our careers to keep growing in our work, and the appropriate level of challenge that keeps us in the zone of proximal development.
This Hooray for Monday blog post by Aleta Margolis explores the importance of developmental appropriateness.
You can fill out the reflection sheet below and be emailed a copy of your responses, or you can download this printable version to write on by hand.
This downloadable zine includes the lyrics to a song that speaks to finding your own zone of proximal development and growing there. (You can listen to a recording here.) Learn more about how to create these little books here.
This book by Chip Wood is an excellent resource for learning more about your students' zones of proximal development. "Yardsticks is a comprehensive guide that helps educators better understand students’ social and academic behavior through a developmental lens. Through age-by-age narratives, developmental characteristics, and activities, the author gives educators thoughtful, research-based, practical strategies to meet students’ needs."
"As adults, our developmental stages are far more spread out than they were when we were children. (The developmental differences between, say, a 5-year-old and a 15-year-old are far greater than the differences between a 45-year-old and a 55-year old!) However developmental appropriateness is still highly relevant for us. In order to continue to grow and learn, we adults need to spend time in our zones of proximal development. This means stepping out of our comfort zones on purpose, knowing it will increase not only our knowledge but also our wellbeing." - Aleta Margolis