Diverse Learners: |
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Students, parents and staff come from a wide range of backgrounds. Each person brings a unique aspect to the classroom, using that excitement, eagerness to learn, and grow about ones culture opens up a wide variety of possibilities. Embracing what each child brings to the classroom will only aid in allowing more learning to take place. Since, each child learns in a wide variety of ways using various instructional techniques is vital in reaching all learners. Within my classroom walls students have the chance to learn through music, movement, linguistic, verbal, kinesthetic, mathematical, and naturalistic forms. This is also referred to Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. (See multiple intelligence presentation). Having an understanding of how students learn will allow the teacher to better meet the needs of all students. To support students that are ELL in my classroom, I also make picture clues. I put a picture of what I am trying to explain or the object and then put the word underneath. Then the students are able to make a connection with the word and the picture. Besides just making pictures I use movement and music to also aid in learning. To help students learn the 3 forms of matter I created a song with movements. All the students remember the three forms of matter. (Forms of Matter Song). There are numerous strategies that can be used to aid students in performing well on tests. Through an active research project that I performed evaluating strategies that help with comprehending test questions, students scores improved. (Test Taking Strategies). The various strategies that have been researched and proven to work well with ELL students were to underline key words, restate what each question is asking, and to eliminate answers that were not correct. Through these various techniques students are better able to select an appropriate answer. Assessments can be modified by looking at words that will confuse students and select more appropriate words when writing your own tests. While students are learning to read and write it is crucial that students still have the opportunity to read and write in their own language. In our library we have several books that are written in a variety of languages and I encourage our students that are bilingual to check them out. Within our classroom also I allow students to share nursery rhymes or songs they know in their native language. The English speaking students also find it very fascinating. Speaking two languages or more should be embraced, so in my classroom I try to support as many languages as possible. Many people think of diverse students as students that come from another country, when in fact diversity can mean low income, homeless, gifted, special needs and many more. I had the privilege of reading Rachel’s Children and wrote a reflection upon the book. (Rachel and Her Children Reflection). This book helped me to realize that many of the people that have become homeless had many unforeseen circumstances that created their situation. This made me reflect upon the students I serve, many of them struggle with basic survival needs. As a teacher I need to be conscious of this and offer hope and encouragement that they can work hard and achieve great things. All students can learn, it is just a matter of finding out their strengths and using those strengths to the best of their ability.
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