No child learns the same way!! Growing up in the early 70’s and 80’s the teaching styles of most teachers was the lecture style. The notion of “one size fits all” is a thing of past. The 21^st century brings about a new paradigm of learning so that teachers can reach ALL learners.

What is differentiated instruction and why is it being utilized in the 21^st century? Simply put, differentiated instruction means adjusting and teaching students to the way they learn. In other words, a teacher might have a classroom filled with 20 students and each of those students learns differently so, within that classroom, he/she will have different styles/ways of teaching them. This might seem crazy you might say, but it can be done so that effective learning can take place for students. It is also the teacher and the student working together collaboratively so that the learning fits. According to Carol Ann Tomlinson, one of the differentiated instruction gurus, “The idea of differentiating instruction to accommodate the different ways that students learn involves a hefty dose of common sense, as well as sturdy support in the theory and research of education. It is an approach to teaching that advocates active planning for student differences in classrooms.”

You might wonder, where is the world would a teacher find the time to cater to the needs of ALL students? Juggling all these roles effectively is a mighty endeavor, but can be accomplished. Since there are four types of learners, it is could be difficult. The four types of learners are the Visual Learners, the Auditory Learner, the Reading/Writing Learner and the Kinesthetic Learner. How does one teach the same topic to the Auditory Learner vs the Visual Learner, the Kinesthetic Learner vs the Reading/Writing Learner? There is so much to do as a teacher Differentiated instruction, in a sense, opens doors for students’ differences and helps the teacher to make the students “fit in.” How does differentiation help the teacher you might ask? Yes, it lends to more planning time, but it can be done. I do know that I share the idea that Carol Ann Tomlinson said, “Teachers in the most exciting and effective differentiated classrooms don’t have all the answers. What they do have is optimism and determination.”

The 21^st Century, no doubt brings many changes including education and as an educator I am called upon to teach and differentiate so all learners benefit. The way I taught right after I left college in the eighties is definitely not how I teach currently. In order to keep abreast with the varying techniques of reaching “all learners” in the classroom it is necessary to upgrade my style of teaching on a regular basis. So it behooves me to keep my learning wheel turning so I will be fully prepared to drive the learning force in the classroom and meet the needs of ALL learners. I want my students to come into my classroom with a clean slate and I won’t listen to former teachers’ preconceived ideas about them, but try to reach out to them in my special way and realize that everyone is diverse in nature and should be treated as such. “The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires.” This is how I see myself: an inspiration to my students.

Reference

Tomlinson, C. A., (2000). The Differentiated Classroom, Responding to the Needs of All Learners. ASCD, Alexandria, VA, USA

Albert Einstein once said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” New? As a classroom teacher, I have met and taught students of various cultures and background. It has been a great experience and I often used the opportunities to learn from them (the students) and I have actually identified with them. Throughout the years of teaching, the students have shared emotional stories that indeed changed my life. Somehow I realized there was a purpose in my teaching and being associated with students, especially English Language Learners (ELL) validated that notion. As an immigrant from a small Caribbean island, I understand what it means to be in a country with a different culture. I know how it feels to be scowled upon because my accent isn’t the same as the typical or my skin or hair color is not like most. I know what it feels like to be away from “home” and start over and begin a “new home.” New home, new school, new food, new culture – phew! It all sounds so exhausting and now to learn in a classroom with new classmates and new teacher!

As a teacher, I have to adjust how I teach and how I respond to ALL students. I have to wear several hats – teacher, counselor, mother, wrestler, referee, coach, psychologist etc. etc. How would I wear so many hats? I have to get to know the students, their culture and how the role their cultures play in their learning. Over the years as a teacher, I have learned several things from my students. I remember a lesson we had about migration and immigration, I was explaining to the students the meaning of the words “migration and immigration” and I explained how I migrated to the United States and where I lived before. I asked the students to tell if they knew anyone who migrated to a country and so on. Some of the students said that they had migrated etc. Things were going great until I noticed that one of the students sitting in the back was sobbing I took him to the side as my collaborating teaching continued with the lesson. After a little probing I that the student had walked from Mexico to come to the United States and had left his grandma behind whom he loved very much. He had walked for days and only ate apples on the journey!!! I realized that even though the lesson was suppose to be an “easy fun loving” one, it affected this particular student differently. He later volunteered to share his story to the others in the class and it became a very emotional lesson for all. The students were very sympathetic to him and they understood his sadness.

One of the highlights of the 21^st century is the concept of diversity, which entails inclusion of students in the classroom. If diversity in the classroom is managed, it will help students to prepare for the globalization, which is being encouraged on the international scene. Learning to respect diversity in the classroom would carry over to their adult lives and greatly lessen much of the divisiveness a community, an organization or a country might face. This in turn would help students prepare for the globalization.

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