Differentiating Learning

As we all know, differentiating learning is a very important aspect to ensure we include when making out lesson plans. As teachers, it is important for us to remember that not all students learn the same way or at the same speed and we have to plan accordingly. I read an article written by Peg Baron on differentiated learning. Her article is about using sidewalk chalk to teach lessons. This approach is a very good technique for those students who learn best by hands on activities. I this approach would get all of the students more involved and interested in the lesson. She provided a variety of games to include: numbered ladder game, multiplication ladder, division ladder, numbers bingo, the reading trail, reading obstacle course, color me, and the alphabet board. I have always been one to learn better by doing hands on activities. My favorite game to do with students would be the reading obstacle course. The author's description of this game is to set up an obstacle course with a sentence or word chalked between each obstacle. For example: sentence, zig zag around cones, sentence, jump through the hula hoop, sentence, balance walk on a length of string, sentence, jump over the blue "river" chalked on the ground. If you want, all your obstacles can be drawn on the sidewalk instead of using real items. The students have to read a sentence and go through the obstacle. I think this activity is the most hands on and helps out a lot with their reading skills. The obstacle course is a great reinforcer for them to want to read the sentence correctly.

Classroom Managment Tips

I read an article on 5 classroom management tips to silence a noisy classroom and found it to be very useful for our own classroom in the near future. The article was written by a guy named Rob Johnson. He said the first thing to remember is that we are the boss within the classroom. I think that this is very important for us to remember so that the students do not try and run over us as teachers. If the students are allowed to control how the classroom is ran then more than likely the classroom with be chaos. I have been in classrooms, either observing or as a student, where this was the case and there were no organization and everything was chaos. The next tip he gives us is to have definite rules on noise. Once rules have been decided on, I think that it is very important to stick with those rules and make sure they are enforced when needed. When rules are changed a lot, the students will get confused on what to do. Also, it is important that the students practice the rules at least a couple of times. The third tip is to control entry in the classroom. It is important that students are aware of the appropriate way to enter and leave the classroom. If a student comes running into the classroom, the teacher should have the student walk out and enter the appropriate way. This is a good way to reinforce the rule. The next tip is to have settling work ready for them to do when they enter the classroom. This will help eliminate a lot of noise first thing in the morning because they are busy working on something as soon as they walk in. The last tip that he gives us for managing a noisy classroom is knowing the right way to ask for silence. I think that this tip is very crucial. When you ask a student to do something in an angry manner, it's either going to make them scared of you or make them rebel against the rule. I think that it is important to enforce rules in a calm manner and the students will respond better.

I am a junior in methods 1. I am doing my placement in a kindergarten classroom at Lanier Primary school in Bryan county. Kindergarten is such a fun class to be in and I love it! I have only been going for a few weeks, but look forward to going each time. I hope to learn a lot while I am there and get a good insight on teaching.