This post refers to a reading from:
Richardson, J., Morgan, R., & Fleener, C. (2011). Reading to learn in the content areas. (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Chapter 11: Supporting Diverse Learners in Content Classrooms
This chapter talks about diverse learners. This is a topic that I am also exploring in my SPED 506 course here at Old Dominion University. Diverse learners include students with special needs and gifted students. The book defines this group of students as any student who may be at risk for academic failure or who needs special understanding or attention. Teachers need to be aware of the diverse learners that are in their classroom. Specifically, they must have understanding for these students and provide appropriate accommodations. They must also search for these students' strengths. A lot of times when students with disabilities are placed into an general education class (inclusion class), the teacher will wonder what this student cannot do as opposed to what the student can do. If the teacher searches for what the student cannot do, the teacher may become frustrated. This is the wrong way to go about accommodating a student. Teachers must find the student's strengths and use them as a way to foster learning. I was told by a professor once that it may be very difficult to find the strengths of some students. I was advised to look for anything positive that the child may do, even if it seems too basic. You must use the skills that they have to help build new skills.
Within this chapter, I really like the mystery clue game on page 344. This game has students put something in chronological order. It has them think logically about a sequence. I also like that the numbers are spelled out as opposed to just writing the number. For example: "4" is written "four." This fosters reading practice. The students know what the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 look like, but do can they define the numbers if they are spelled out? When they are asked to sequence numbers that are written out, the task becomes reading practice.
2 comments:
I haven't taken SPED 506 but it sounds like it will be a great class to further explain this chapter to us, because this topic is very important for new teachers.
Good point about focusing on strengths. Sometimes it appears that education is set up to highlight your weaknesses.
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