Blog #2

In differentiated classrooms, teachers continually assess student readiness, interest, learning profile, and affect.  Teachers then use what they learn to modify content, process, product, and the learning environment to ensure maximum learning for each member of the class.  (page 6 Linking Students Traits and Classroom Elements)


I believe that this sums up the whole meaning of being a differentiated teacher.  If a teacher can recognize the needs of each and every one of his or her students, then the teacher has a basis and a model already set up for teaching those students.  I like how it says that teachers continually asses the aspects of differentiation.  Students are going to change many aspects of learning throughout the time the teacher is with them in the classroom.  This may mean that readiness to learn is improved, or that a student's interest is skewed or enlightened by what the teacher may have said during a lesson.  It is interesting that a student can change a view in different ways.  Students who are not interested in what is being taught, may want to learn more about what is being said.  Also students who have questions before the instruction, may no longer have questions after the content becomes clearer to them.  These are things that need to be assessed each and everyday of the teacher's career.  If a students needs are met by a teacher who is understanding of the learning that is taking place, or learning that may not be taking place, these students will continue to learn in some way.  They will continue to have a maximum learning by having all the needs met as they learn, not after the teacher thinks they should have learned something that was taught.  It is clear to me what I need to do, but I can see that being a differentiated teacher is a daunting task as well.  It is something I do not see myself mastering right out of the gates.  I can see that teachers need to learn to develop the skills to be an effective differentiated teacher.  I hope I can take the task on and be successful with all the students I will teach in my classroom.   There are so many different elements of being a differentiated teacher, I can see why it is so difficult to do.  Effort = success, as a teacher!  Success = differentiation!  Thus, differentiation = effort!