So, how do we start to create a differentiated classroom? How will we know we are doing it right?
There are 4 student traits that teachers must address to ensure effective learning; readiness, interest, learning profile, and affect.
Readiness refers to the students knowledge, understanding, and skill related to learning. Readiness varies over time, topic, and circumstance. This video shows a great example.
Interest refers to topics that create curiosity and intrigue. Schools create an atmosphere for students to realize new interests, to explore them, and to be engaged while doing so. Here is an example.
Learning profile refer to how students learn best. These include learning style, intelligence, preference, culture, and gender. When students aren't given different ways to learn, they do not retain the information, as seen in this video.
Affect has to do with how students feel about themselves, their work, and their classroom as a whole. In the differentiated classroom, the teacher is receptive to the feelings and emotions of the students and if they are learning. We can see how these students feel in this video.
Tammy, I'm so happy that you got started on your blog so quickly! It has a great visual appeal, and I will look forward to reading it regularly! Good for you -- for going out there and "bringing back"vvideo clips that help me see into your understandings and interpretations! The first video clip you included, with the school in Maine, discusses the Responsive Classroom Approach (of which Morning Meeting is one part that we will study in-depth!), and the research they cite (done by Rimm-Kaufman) is what I worked on when I did my Sabbatical a couple of years ago. So, this post "spoke my language." When we meet in our conference next week, I will help you see a difference between this kind of being-reading-ready-to-learn, and the actual trair of "readiness" that Tomlinson discusses. They are definitely related, so this will just clarify some things to help you put everything in the perspective of being able to set it up in your own classroom. Your second video clip does address the importance of utilizing student interest, but it also addresses student Affect... so we'll discuss that, too! Learning profile has to do with knowing the WAYS we learn, and under which conditions each child learns "best." You definied all of these correctly, including Affect... and I'll help you put them all in a perspective that will help you understand differentiation. 5 pts.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, kudos to being so prepared while being in Peru! I have noticed you posting on different Facebook accounts. I am also going to Tonga so it will be great to actually meet you in person! This was a good blog post. We talked about these things in class today and I think you did a great job in defining them. Being in the elementary education field, affect is something that I would hope comes easily to teachers! We want our students to be comfortable and feel like they are important each and every day. Hopefully teachers are willing and wanting to differentiate their classrooms not only to help increase knowledge, but also students self esteem and confidence! I thought it was also interesting that the learning profile consists of so many factors! Culture, personality, gender, and backgrounds are just a few things that may contribute to a child's learning profile.
ReplyDeleteThese four traits, readiness, interest, learning profile and affect are all important for teachers to address in their classroom to have a successful class. Interests for the students is obviously something very important. I think that in any day to day activity you have to have interest to want to learn or do that activity. If you don't have interest, you don't have motivation. Creating activities that will intrigue students to want to learn will help keep them focused and ready to learn as well. Giving students different ways to learn will help individual students who have certain learning styles which is everyone. Some people learn visually, auditory, or hands on. We need to create these different ways so everyone can reach the same goal which is our objective.
ReplyDelete