Differentiation in the Classroom

One of the most memorable things that we did this week was teach each other in groups. My table was taught a bean bag throwing game. We were split into two teams, and each team was trying to score the most points be throwing a bean bag into a basket that was in the middle of the gym. The number of points that we got was in relation to where we were standing in the gym. After the activity, we talked about how we could modify this activity to include more students with different special needs, including blindness and other cognitive disabilities.

My table taught the other group how to make paper boxes. We split them up into two groups and had two different teachers teaching them what to do. We also had two people that were wandering around, helping people that were struggling.

I liked getting to do these activities and getting to experience different styles and different ways to teach. Differentiation is SO important when you are teaching! There are many many strategies that we can use to reach different students in our classrooms, and that is what this activity taught me. I liked hearing about the different groups and how they taught their lessons as well. As a teacher, it is very important to be aware of the students in your classroom. We can have many different techniques to help each of them succeed, as long as we will take the time to learn about them.

I also learned that sometimes, you need to modify your techniques during the lesson. Sometimes, you plan something out, thinking that it will work, and it just doesn't. That is perfectly ok, as long as you don't keep trying to make the same approach work again and again. I have learned that flexibility is very important in teaching. If something is not working, you can adjust your approach during the class, and try it from a different angle. This is why learning about differentiation is important.