Standard 2: Learning Differences
2.1 The teacher allows learners multiple ways to demonstrate learning, sensitive to diverse experiences, while holding high expectations for all.
During my student teaching I created a social studies Unit assessment that allowed my learners to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways. This unit focused on the the events surrounding the Revolutionary War. For the assignment students were placed in groups and had to collaborate to create a colonial newspaper that highlights the various battles of the Revolution. The student could create their newspaper in any way they chose but they had to incorporate specific information. The paper had to be about a battle of their choice, had to pick a hero or leader to talk about, and they had to have a facts page. The complete assignment is detailed here. The students could be as creative as they wanted to be. After the newspaper was created they then presented their project to the class. This allowed me to see that my students got the information and provided multiple ways for them to show it. Each student could pick a part that was their strength and collaborated with their team to make a final product. Although the students had the freedom to be creative I also held high expectations for the end product. The newspapers were then posted on our bulletin board so that it contributed to the school wide culture.
Differentiated instruction
Differentiated instruction is a great way for a teacher to alter their teaching for each student while holding high expectations. In my course Diversity and Learning I created a video that describes the basic principles on how to differentiate your instruction. During my student teaching I had to differentiate for two students who are ELL's, and two students with autism. In each of my lessons I had to support these individuals and give them the necessary supports to succeed. For example those students could come work in the back of the class with me at any time, leave the class to go to the conference room so they had a quiet place to work, or choose where they wanted to be seated in the class so they had the best access to the material.
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