Standard 3: Diverse Learners. Candidates understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
Supporting Explanation Candidates understand and can identify differences in student approaches to learning and performance. They are able to design instruction and adapt instructional techniques for students of diverse cultural and language backgrounds and for students who have exceptional learning needs. Candidates create a learning community which is inclusive and in which individual differences are respected.
My Reflection of this standard: Throughout Education and Psychology courses at Maryville College I have been introduced to several strategies and techniques that can be used to enhance learning for everyone in the classroom. In today's classes ALL students learn in different ways, therefore differentiation is a necessity. Daily instruction needs to be varied instead of constantly following a predictable pattern. This will help to address all learners needs and keep most learners interested. My extensive research with Autism has given me a plethora of strategies to help those type of learners, but also strategies that can be modified to benefit all learners. Throughout college I have taken the extra step to learn more about diverse learners through professional development, and I plan to be a teacher that is constantly learning more new strategies and techniques to address this standard.
Artifacts Explanation: Below is the abstract from my senior study. Throughout this lengthy process I researched and observed different types of strategies to help control behavior and make learning an easier process for different types of students. In the study I noted behaviors and the trigger that corresponded to see if behaviors could be prevented.
The second artifact attached is a 6th grade lesson plan on geometry. On the third page (it is highlighted) you will see the different types of differentiation that I have included for English Language Learners, Struggling Readers, Resource, and Advance students.
Also attached is an assignment from Education 321 that is a list of techniques and strategies to use with English Language Learners. I plan to always keep this list in order to use up to date ideas and research based best practices.