How Can Instruction be Differentiated for Diverse Learners?
First, what makes a diverse leaner? Diverse learners come from many different backgrounds whether they have a disability or multiple intelligences. Students from around the world learn about their capabilities within the school.
Throughout the years, people with disabilities had to fight for their educational rights. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, enforced that children with disabilities are to receive a free public education as well as participate in activities with children without disabilities within a school. In short, IDEA allowed for students to receive the same education regardless of their circumstances. Since IDEA, an individualized education program is crafted by a team of school professionals and the child's parents or guardians (Barrett, 2013). The IEP is structured information that a child with disabilities needs to be successful in school, it lays out the goals for students to achieve. Teachers can create modifications to allow all students to benefit during their learning.
As for all students, they have multiple intelligences. Some might be more successful in different forms of learning. Lessons with different intelligences (nature, linguistic, word, music, etc.) allow students to enhance their multiple intelligences. In a lesson, it is possible to include some of the multiple intelligences in different stages. For example, physical activity can showcase a lesson (role-play) to benefit body smart students as well as people smart (working together). Towards the end of the lesson, a song can be played that highlights key ideas within the lesson for music smart students which grasp ideas through rhythm and melodies. Another solution is to create stations for students to learn through different intelligences but be cautious of overcrowding the lesson. It is important for students to develop all of their multiple intelligences to prepare themselves for the future.
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Hi Reanna! IDEA is great for those students with disabilities that learn in different ways from other students. I especially appreciate the guardian involvement because it seems like no one knows a child better than one that watches them all the time. It is also so important for students to have classes that are able to enhance their different intelligences. I know personally that I was not into music class as a child, but was very disappointed when an art lesson would come to an end. The idea of different stations (with keeping the idea of overcrowding in mind) is fantastic. That could assist in children being able to grasp material in the way they best can. If one station does not work for them, they can move to another until they find one that best suits their learning style!
ReplyDeleteYes! Guardian involvement is so beneficial for students with or without disabilities. I have seen parents check in with teachers for updates about their children and how they can help and I think it is super awesome for parents to be engaged. It definitely encourages their children to want to do good in school.
DeleteHey Reanna. I love the way that you responded to the question posed " How can instruction be differentiated for diverse learners". I liked how you went to explain the content that we learned, perfectly capturing everything we learned. I think that learning in a way of using multiple intelligences allows for the kids to be able to really learn their content in depth while tuning into those different types of learning. Being able to plan lessons around using different "smarts" like body, music, and nature you;d really be beneficial to the kids. Some may show strengths in one section while showing weakness in the other, and it is important to recognize what your class looks like in these regards. I found myself to be better at P.E. then I was at art or music, so this notion of "multiple intelligences" made a lot of sense to me, and made me think about lesson planning in a more purposeful way.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using multiple intelligences as a foundation for building lessons. Although multiple intelligences do not define a child, it is important that they exceed in their own way while challenging themselves with different ways to learn information. I, myself was always a hands on physical learner so transitioning to online was definitely a challenge as I am sure many students felt it was challenging as well.
DeleteHi Reanna! I want to start off by saying your description of a diverse learner was perfectly stated. You did a wonderful job at going into detail with what the concept of IDEA is and how it helps our students feel just as equal as any other student. I agree with you on how people learn and have different strengths in all subjects/categories. If we were all the same, then things would be just too easy don't you think? You're idea of creating different sections would be so beneficial for many students and I feel as if it would help them not only enjoy learning more, but set an example in showing them what they can bring to the table and that everybody is different and that is okay. When I was in middle school, I found I was weak in my math classes but strong in my English ones and came across friends who were the opposite. For me, being around other people who may have not struggled the same way I did, but still did have their weaknesses was something I found comforting because I saw this as an opportunity for us to get to help each other and I was not alone.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Different learning minds allow for different lessons and ways of teaching. I can't even imagine a world with students that all learned the same way. Classroom instruction would not be as diverse and fun! I like how you mentioned your personal example, students could be struggling in one area however, students that are not can help out. This way you would be exchanging knowledge to benefit each other.
DeleteHi Reanna, I really like that way the you incorporate different ideas about how you can include material for those who are different types of learners like music or physical activity. Being a hands on learner myself, I personally learn better when I have a physical aid when I am in a class room. I think that there are so many more opportunities for students to be able to grasp the lesson when an education provides different activities that highlight different “smarts”.
ReplyDeleteI am also a physical learning person. Since the pandemic hit, I could only imagine how students struggled being online when they benefitted more with hands on learning in a classroom. I stayed home with my nieces while they were doing online school and I had to provide physical examples for math and find different ways to help her succeed in a zoom 2nd grade class. It was quite the experience!
DeleteRaeanna, you brought up a a great point of how students from around the world learn of their capabilities in school. I haven't thought of that until reading your blog. Diverse learners are probably still discovering what learning techniques best suit them the most the more time they spend in the classroom. Also, you gave a great description of what IDEA is and why it is important for future teachers to know about it. As teachers it is important to gain new knowledge of how education has changed over the years to benefit students with disabilities. As public education has changed, the concept of all students learn differently continues to evolve. Your examples prove just that. I loved your idea of including music in lessons to take into consideration of students who learn through music and melodies. I think music can benefit students who can't concentrate in complete silence.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great to incorporate some multiple intelligences. Music can be so soothing for individual work and can also be upbeat and informative. I think new generation of teachers can bring new techniques to the classroom that include engaging lessons!
DeleteHi Reanna, I think that incorporating different types of mutiliple intelligence activities it will allow for the students to gain the most benefits in their learning. Adding music to lessons is not something often seen as kids get older and I think introducing it and using it as not only background music but educational music will have a good influence on them
ReplyDeleteHi Reanna! Your summary of the way in which children with dis/abilities have been treated in the past is a super important point to discuss and acknowledge, especially when working to make education a more inclusive and accommodating profession. Children who learn differently should not be ostricized from their peers and made to learn in isolated environments with specific specialized instruction. Though curriculum SHOULD definitely be adaptable and flexible, it should never be used as a means to divide students, especially in a way that makes it apparent or implied that groups are "different" from one another. Students will all thrive in different areas and process information differently. This does not make students inherently "different" from one another in a way that makes certain students seem "other." I also love that you pointed out that multiple intelligences may be drawn upon in different classroom activities. I remember learning lots of fun ways we could incorporate different methods of facilitating in my drama course here at Texas State and much emphasis was on utilizing multiple techniques to meet the needs and learning preferences of all students.
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