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@BV_Mentor
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Teaching Construct 1.2: Learner Differences
During my first round of observations, this week and last, it was amazing for me to see the diversity in each of your classrooms! Although I'm only a couple of months out of teaching in the classroom, it's a great reminder just how difficult our job is! That being said, with our ever-changing society, teachers have got to stay committed to gaining an understanding of the individual differences and diverse cultures and communities in their classrooms to ensure they are providing an inclusive learning environment that enables ALL learners to meet high standards.
Some ways to do this successfully are....
Some ways to do this successfully are....
- to get to know your students
- to design, adapt, and deliver instruction to address each students' diverse learning strengths and needs
- to allow students to demonstrate their learning in different ways
- to design instruction to build on learners' prior knowledge and experiences
- to bring multiple perspectives to the discussion of content while paying attention to learners' personal, family, and community experiences along with cultural norms
- too access resources, supports, and specialized assistance and services to meet particular learning differences or needs
- to incorporate tools of language development into planning and instruction to make content accessible to ELLs.
Below are some resources to help you with differentiating instruction.
Differentiating in the Elementary Classroom
Click on the link below to watch a video of examples of differentiating in the elementary classroom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqepSNNjowU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqepSNNjowU
Student Self-Assessment for Multiple Intelligences
Click on the link below to access the self-assessment.
http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-assessment?utm_source=google&utm_medium=text&utm_term=quiz&utm_campaign=0112quiz&gclid=CNmB6tu4wq4CFcwBRQodkXMYVA
http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-assessment?utm_source=google&utm_medium=text&utm_term=quiz&utm_campaign=0112quiz&gclid=CNmB6tu4wq4CFcwBRQodkXMYVA
Differentiating in the Secondary Classroom
Click on the link below to watch a video of examples of differentiating in the secondary classroom.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction
What's Next for Mentoring?
As I finish up my initial informal observations, I will be contacting you directly to find a time for a follow-up meeting. I have to say- I have been SO impressed with everything I've seen so far, and I can't wait to see more!
During our follow-up meetings, we will start to plan out which ETMs you will sign up for that could be the most beneficial to your specific needs. The following ETMs may occur before we have a chance to sit down and talk. If you want to go ahead and sign up for any of them, please feel free! I know the Effective Classroom Environment ETM can be very useful at the beginning of the year, so I want to encourage you to sign up regardless of if we've talked about it or not!
During our follow-up meetings, we will start to plan out which ETMs you will sign up for that could be the most beneficial to your specific needs. The following ETMs may occur before we have a chance to sit down and talk. If you want to go ahead and sign up for any of them, please feel free! I know the Effective Classroom Environment ETM can be very useful at the beginning of the year, so I want to encourage you to sign up regardless of if we've talked about it or not!
- 9/9/15- K-5 Creating and Maintaining an Effective Classroom Environment Part 1
- 9/10/15 6-12 Creating and Maintaining an Effective Classroom Environment Part 1
- 9/16/15- K-12 (SPED) Graphing Part 1
About Dr. Bowles
Fun fact about me: I was a coach/pitcher for a kickball team that went all the way to the World Adult Kickball Association's National Tournament in Las Vegas. We also played in several tournaments for charity where we have won over $15,000 for our charity: Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer!
Email: cbowles@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: https://district.bluevalleyk12.org
Location: 15020 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS, United States
Phone: 913-239-4366
Twitter: @BV_Mentor
A Little Something Extra to Make you Laugh
Watch the montage of Hollywood movie clips that attempt to demonstrate differentiated instruction.
hollywood differentiated instruction classrooms