MAT671 Applied Best Strategies in Classroom Instruction

Reflection on Teaching Diverse Learners

Not only has diversity become a norm within the classroom among our students, we should expect that diversity will continue to grow. As each student enters the classroom with unique cultural and linguistic backgrounds and personal experiences, it is important to regard them respectfully as individuals and address their individual learning needs. To best teach diverse learners, I believe best practices in the classroom should include:

Differentiated Instruction
A new topic, lesson, or unit should always be introduced with clarity so that students understand the purpose and learning goals of it. As there are different types learners (visual, kinesthetic, audio, etc.), content materials should be varied in form to achieve optimal student learning and mastery of objectives/goals. Students come with so many different perspectives and experiences of their own, building meaningful connection based on their personal experiences will help them process the new information/material better.

Feedback and Student Accountability
Teacher feedback is also crucial for student learning; to address the diverse learning needs, feedback should be specific to the students' capabilities and learning style.  Because not all students learn at the same pace, they should be given opportunities to be active in their learning process. Through reflection and self-checkpoints, students can be held accountable for their own learning progress by monitoring their own projects and work, and to better understand their learning strengths and areas of improvement.

Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning can be a very effective strategy in developing students' critical thinking skills, making connection to the real world, and providing meaningful purpose to what they are learning. Through projects and group work, students will face decision-making as well as accountability amongst themselves. In collaboration, students can gain more awareness of their individual talents and have the chance to make significant contributions.