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Differentiated instruction and learning theories applied essay
Differentiated Instruction and Its Impact
Reflections about differentiated instruction
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Introduction
Throughout this document, we will discuss the overall importance of risk management and assessment and how these two, seemingly simple aspects of teaching can produce improved outcomes academically and socially for both the students and teachers.
Regardless of the socioeconomically status and overall location, teachers will be faced with students who are at risk in educational setting. This could be due to mental or physical disabilities; a lack of clear instructions; or an overall lack of understanding. To aid teachers in their lesson differentiation and application, The Department of Education have set out a number of documents and policies which will help monitor and evaluate the student’s progress without impeding learning.
Argument for SAER
When a student performs below standard, academically, beginning teachers often try to place blame on behavioural misconduct, rather than assessing the student’s overall performance and identifying any potential behaviours that could be deemed ‘at-risk’. By implementing appropriate educational programs (such as IEP’s, IBP’s and RMP’s), reviewing, monitoring and evaluating consistently, students who are at-risk will be able to reach measurable goals.
By building a support network for the student and catering for the student’s specific needs teachers will be able to extend students both academically and socially. When students improve academically, isolation will diminish, thus creating less anxiety and emotional stress. Social improvement will enable students to work collaboratively and contribute openly in classroom activities.
It is mandatory for all teachers to identify at-risk students and implement strategies to improve academic and social proficiency (Department of ...
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...goals to ensure they are achievable within a set time period
- Build strong relationships with all stakeholders to ensure successful communication and support for the student.
The general consensus around IEP’s, IBP’s and RMP’s are that they are a time consuming requirement of teaching; however, when implemented correctly they are an invaluable part of student learning.
When analysing results from Stone Lodge Academy in the UK, it was found that 7% of students did not achieve their set outcomes (Stone Lodge Academy, 2015). Using these results, teachers would be able to successfully plan for the following year, using the SMART principle (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound). Using this principle will assist in creating effective programs for students at educational risk, by ensuring individual goals are attainable and relevant to the student.
As stated from Wikipedia, an at risk student is a term used in the United States to describe a student who requires temporary or ongoing intervention in order to succeed academically. At risk students, sometimes referred to as at-risk youth, are also adolescents who are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Characteristics of at-risk students include emotional or behavioral problems, truancy, low academic performance, showing a lack of interest for academics, and
Thornton Fractional South High School represents a diverse school building in the South Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We consist of a traditional 9th through 12th grade building with the exception of busing students to the District 215 Tech Center for vocational classes. We share these resources with our sister school TF North. Although we consistently outperform TFN, we are behind the state averages on both the ACT and the PSAE. On the ACT, we are below the state average on the composite score as well as on all three recorded sub-categories. We were closest to the state average in Science and the furthest in Reading. As for the PSAE test to measure those students meeting and exceeding standards, we are again behind the state average. TFS averaged 40.5% of students tested to meet or exceed standards. Meanwhile, the State of Illinois average was 53%. Currently, we are on the Academic Watch Status year 2. We were unable to meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) or the Safe Harbor Target Goal for Reading and Mathematics which are the two target areas. Our goal as a school is to reach the AYP and attempt to reach and exceed the state averages on the ACT and PSAE.
Using Allison’s strengths and interests is important to helping her become a successful student. This is the method of helping Bender, Brian and any other student become successful in school. Building on the student strengths, while allowing them to work on their weaknesses is important for all students and especially for twice-exceptional students in the classroom. When looking at the student’s weakness it is important to understand that their behavior is not a weakness, but a result of an underlying cause. Examining the cause of the behavior will help recognize the challenge areas for improvement by understanding the underlying cause for the behavior. After understanding the student’s strengths and challenges, the teachers can then fully help the student learn to the best of their abilities.
Cloran (n.d.) suggest teachers need to have a broad understanding of giftedness and learning disabilities, a variety of identification measures and the ability to modify the curriculum and implement differentiated teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of all students. A graduate teacher recognises that students learn in their own way and should understand and be able to identify a number of teaching strategies to differentiate and meet the learning needs of all students. They may create groups based on previous assessment results and set clear or modified instructions for each group based on ability or learning styles. To address the specific learning needs of all student abilities, multi-sensory strategies using charts, diagrams, outside lessons and videos, as well as posters around the room or information on the desk could be used. Tomlinson (1999) suggests that differentiated instruction aims to build on student’s strengths and maximize their learning by adjusting instructional tasks to suit their individual needs. Ensuring teaching and instructions are clear, revising and prompting students during lessons and providing templates and assisting student in breaking down tasks into achievable, systematic chunks are some additional examples. Lucas, (2008) suggests highlighting key vocabulary within the text to focus students on the central concepts within the text. Quick finishing students should be provided with the opportunity to extend themselves with extension tasks that have a specific purpose and
It takes a while to change any behavior. Part of the plan should be effective consequence strategies. Planned consequences reinforce the acquisition and use of alternative skills and reduce the effectiveness of problem behavior should it continue to occur. Having planned consequences should help teach the student that his/her use of alternative skills is a better way to bring about the desired result. Because it does take a while for a behavior intervention plan to change a student 's behavior, it is important that the IEP team decide what will happen when the problem behavior still occurs. If it is a manageable behavior, it is important to come up with responses that discourage the problem behavior and do not provide the function or desired result of the behavior. In some cases the behavior may be extreme. The IEP team should develop a crisis plan to address those situations. First the group needs to define what is a crisis. Then they should describe the intervention procedures to be put into place including who will be involved. They must identify the resources needed to implement the plan and agree on the procedures for documenting the use of the crisis
Schools are in great need of systems, processes, and personnel who are able to support the needs of students with problem behavior. Research indicates, however, that (while I am a big, fat cheater) information has not been made available to teachers and other professionals in a format that allows these strategies to become common practice. Many teachers choose isolated behavioral strategies that are not applied immediately after the problem behavior has occurred.
Sometimes, determining when students are at risk can be a difficult task. The term “at-risk” has been used to describe a particular category of students who, on the basis of several risk factors, are unlikely to graduate from high school (Land, Stringfield, 2002). Yet educators are also confronted with children who have other at-risk conditions. For example, educators will be responsible for working with students who are at risk due to health problems, substance abuse, disabilities, socioeconomic status and other various reasons. These conditions can make students academically at-risk, or in danger of not meeting their educational potential. The use of the term “at-risk” to describe learners is often controversial and deserves consideration, as the at-risk label can convey a negative connotation.
Richards, S., Taylor, R., Smiley, L. 2009; Exceptional Students: Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century
Students with learning disabilities can learn; each student has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Educators must continue to focus on the strengths of each student and building on them, creating a stronger student and person. Identifying the weakness is at the core of getting a student help with their learning disability, but after this initial identification and placement, the focus should shift to the strengths and adjusting the student’s schoolwork to reflect these strengths. For instance, if a student is weak in reading but has wonderful group interaction skills and is good with his or her hands, the students' reading tasks should then be shifted to reflect these st...
In the first article “The Journal of Educational Psychology” states that teacher-student interactions are very important and can change a students path in achievement. They suggest that when teacher-student interactions take place in a positive matter whether one on one, small groups, or the whole class, that these teacher-student interactions deliver the students with the correct support needed for their learning potential. Also, these positive interactions then can help set the student up for other positive paths in the classroom. Examples of these interactions are categorized into three realms of support: emotional, organizational, and instructional. Teachers who offer a high amount of emotional support to their students in the classroom are creating a safe environment for their students where they can then feel as if they can take positive ventures in their students learning ability. Also it’s stated that an organized classroom can help provide productive routines and also helps support students attentiveness as well a...
In today’s educational environment, all students expect to receive the same level of instruction from schools and all students must meet the same set of standards. Expectations for students with learning disabilities are the same as students without any learning difficulties. It is now unacceptable for schools or teachers to expect less from one segment of students because they have physical disabilities, learning disabilities, discipline problems, or come from poor backgrounds. Standardize testing has resulted in making every student count as much as their peers and the most positive impact has been seen with the lowest ability students. Schools have developed new approaches to reach these previously underserved students while maintaining passing scores for the whole student body. To ensure academic success, teachers employ a multi-strategy approach to develop students of differing abilities and backgrounds. Every student is different in what skills and experiences they bring to the classroom; their personality, background, and interests are as varied as the ways in which teachers can choose to instruct them. Differentiated instruction has been an effective method in which teachers can engage students of various backgrounds and achieve whole-class success. When using differentiated instruction, teachers develop lesson strategies for each student or groups of students that provide different avenues of learning but all avenues arrive at the same learning goal.
Achievement is important, but student success relies on much more than simply the mastery of a skill. Building leaders who provide classroom teachers with all different types of data show that knowing students for more than just their achievement scores is important and informs high quality instruction.Teachers use that data to understand the student’s background, attendance history, IEP/504 testing history, previous performance, and skill level. This information should be used to provide differentiated instruction and student-focused
of the teaching methods I am utilizing, as well as, how I am assessing the students is beneficial to not only all my students, but professionally as well.
It is crucial that teachers employ a number of strategies in order to support the education of students from disadvantaged groups. Whether these strategies are expressed through pedagogy, curriculum or just communication, they all have a significant role in enhancing the opportunity to gain an education.
...pupils are expected to use and learn a new language and new cultural dispositions effectively In addition, she comprehended that having a motivation to succeed is an issue that male and female pupils face because they do not believe that their efforts will develop their performance. What is more, she apprehended that that many general education teachers do not follow the instructions of the IEP’s nor even read the IEP's, and believe that their learning disabled students are just lazy. At the end of the day, the children are the future and need individuals surrounding them that will have their best interest at heart. By everyone (educators, parents, community leaders, etc…) working together as a team (T-Together, E-Everyone, A-Achieves, M-More), we will be prosperous in helping and guiding pupils in becoming future leaders, as well as productive citizens in society.