Standard 1 - Teaching Diverse Students – The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, economic, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.
Causes and Characteristics Research Paper
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The artifacts presented under standard one are two papers that demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of working with students who have diverse needs. In the causes and characteristics paper, I show that I have done research and have acquired knowledge regarding intellectual disabilities. Along with the paper, I created a presentation for my Introduction to Exceptional Students class, in which I explained some of the most useful teaching accommodations and modifications that can be made for students with various intellectual disabilities.
This artifact was chosen to represent standard one by showing the diversity of students in the classroom. As educators, we need to be able to meet the needs of a range of diverse and unique students through a variety of methods, strategies and accommodations/modifications. Knowledge indicator (1C) states, “understands how teaching and student learning are influenced by development (physical, social and emotional, cognitive, linguistic), past experiences, talents, prior knowledge, economic circumstances and diversity within the community”. My artifacts demonstrate that I understand that a student's learning is influenced by a variety of different factors. As a future educator, I need to be aware of these factors so that I will be able to make the appropriate accommodations and modifications.
In addition to my paper on intellectual disability, I have also embedded a paper which covers gifted students. Performance indicator 1J states that, "differentiates strategies, materials, pace, levels of complexity, and language to introduce concepts and principles so that they are meaningful to students at varying levels of development and to students with diverse learning needs". In my paper on gifted students, I provide examples of different teaching strategies, accommodations and modifications in order to demonstrate that I have the ability to successfully meet the needs of a range of diverse students.
These two papers demonstrate that I have an understanding of working with both gifted and struggling students. I believe my experience as a para-professional at Elim Christian School has trained me well for working with students who have a variety of disabilities as well as with students who learn at different paces. I look forward to continuing my education and becoming even better at meeting the needs of every student I have the opportunity to teach.