Curriculum and Instruction in the Face of Student Diversity

I loved this section of our text book! It tugged at my heart strings a little bit.  They say that the best way to teach a child is to care for them. I agree, and I love this next direct quote from the text. "You can care only when you understand-what it is like to be a part of that child's culture, what it is like to be unable to speak the language of the classroom, what it is like to go "home" to a shelter every night, what it is like to wonder about things no one else in the classroom seems to ponder, what it is like to think steady thoughts only to have them sabotaged by print that scrambles on the page."  

This is one of my biggest fears as a new teacher. I worry that I won't be able to reach all of my students. I agree with what the text says. You do need to understand a child before you can truly differentiate for their learning. I believe that. I know that I will do my very best to make links with my students talents, interests, and dreams.  I want to know hat my students care about, and what they want out of life. I think that there are a lot of important things we will do and talk about at school, but that getting to REALLY KNOW your students is the most important.

Curriculum And Instruction That Are Scaffolded

If you want to be a great teacher, you need to scaffold learning for your students! Place work a bit out of reach for a learner, and then ensure that they reach and succeed at that new level. This is a higher quality of teaching! A lot of teachers think that they are scaffolding, simply by providing the help their students need at the time of the lesson... not true. In order to truly scaffold, you need to be thinking about the needs of each individual student, and what they need in order to challenge their learning. This is why scaffolding and differentiation go hand in hand.  By scaffolding, you are already thinking about differentiation, you just may not know it yet.  "If you are doing your job for every student, then every student will find you indispensable." Love that quote from our text book. I want all of my students to need me!

Engaging Curriculum

When a lesson is engaging, that is where the magic happens for our students.  We need to deliver our curriculum instruction in ways that are irresistible to young minds. Learner engagement occurs when the teachers sees what is essential in topic, and merges that with their own talents and passion.  It also happens when you create a place of learning where there are enough materials, avenues, and inquiries that make it so every single one of your students are engaged.  EVERY LESSON SHOULD BE MOTIVATIONAL. When lessons are engaging and motivational to students, then they are able to see the meaning in the lesson.  They are are also able to see value in their work, and the work of others.  I like this.  I don;'t think that it really takes all that much more effort to see that your lessons are engaging and fun. This sounds especially easy to me with differentiation.  I know that I am more motivated to do assignments that I am able to do, and that I know I will be successful at.  Kids are no different.