Professional Competency 7

Take into account student diversity.

Implement, as part of an inclusive teaching approach, strategies for differentiating teaching practices so as to support the full participation and success of all students.

Third Field Experience: Georges P. Vanier Elementary School

Aug to Dec 2022

At the beginning of my internship, my Cooperating Teacher and I placed students at their desks in alphabetical order. As we did not know much about them, we wanted to see how they interacted with each other and to get a general understanding of their level in English. After a few weeks, we offered that students pick their own seats in the classroom. We took dutiful notes about their interactions, their cooperation and their seriousness in class while being placed next to friends and made final adjustments a few weeks later. With the notes from the first few weeks, English level, and the other few weeks, cooperation, we made a final seating chart that has worked well and meets students’ needs. We have attempted to place stronger students that are good cooperators with weaker students that are willing to learn. This has helped us a lot when those weaker students need help, as the stronger mature students have taken on a helping role. Other students have unfortunately been separated from their friends, but it is to their benefit as they are in a more suitable place to listen and learn. Overall, it has been quite a puzzle, combined with an adaptation period, but these steps have taken into account our students’ differentiated needs.  

In addition, I have adapted some activities to fit students’ learning needs and capabilities. As I have mentioned previously, I adapted one of my grammar lessons to help students better learn essential grammar rules they were struggling with. I created a game on PowerPoint where students had to follow certain movements when they saw specific grammar rules. This created a fun dance routine that students were able to use later on in the period and on other days to remind themselves of grammar rules.