TL;DR: Rather than modify assignments to differentiate instruction, change how we teach to ensure students understand the material. Not all students learn in the same way. We need to recognize when to change how we teach the lesson. We need to know our students and support them. With differentiated instruction, it is possible to meet the learning styles of all students. … Read More
Planning Plinko
TL;DR: Sometimes teachers plan lessons or units that are disconnected to their desired student outcomes, like the Plinko effect. It’s important that you consider the pegs and barriers that exist with your students. It’s better to look at individuals and groups of students, and determine how to remove barriers so that the chip can fall into the desired slot. The … Read More
Redefining Personalization as a Pedagogy for Humanization
TL;DR: Personalized learning can ensure equitable learning in classrooms. We must reframe personalization not as a pedagogy of individualization, but as a pedagogy for humanization and connectedness. If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that the primary purpose of personalization is to ensure equitable learning in our classrooms. We know full well that students come into our classrooms as unique … Read More
Let’s Talk About Ableist Language
TL;DR Ableism shows up in our language and actions, even at school. It’s important to consider both identity first and people first language. Ableist language factors into our daily interactions with each other and the structures of power around us. What is ableism? People experience disability differently. There are physical, cognitive, and learning disabilities, and mental illnesses, to name a … Read More
Effective Tools for End-of-Year Student Conferencing
TL;DR: Make sure to purposefully include time for student conferencing in your plans. During a conference, the student is able to monitor their progress and get clarification about assignments. The teacher is able to guide the student to use individualized study strategies. They can also monitor the students’ progress and help them set attainable goals. As we go into the … Read More