Walk a Mile in a Child’s Shoes

Post on 07-Jan-2016

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Walk a Mile in a Child’s Shoes. Understanding the non-traditional learner. Think of a child: someone who is a mystery to you…. Try to walk in her shoes today. Some Assumptions. Some of you are glad to be here and are looking forward to learning. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Walk a Mile in a Child’s Shoes

Walk a Mile in a Child’s Shoes

Understanding the non-traditional learner

Think of a child: someone who is a mystery to you…

Some Assumptions

Others wish that they just had the day off and are perfectly satisfied with what they know.

Some may be worried that they will be found lacking.

Some may be distracted by issues outside this room.

Some may know a great deal about this topic already.

Others may think it has nothing to do with them.

Some of you are glad to be here and are looking forward to learning.

In other words

• You are just like your students

Learning research

All people learn best when the material is just challenging enough.

If your energy is being spent in dealing with difficult emotions (anxiety, fear…) you will have little left for learning.

Outline of the day

• Introduction 9:00• Ruben Gur: Brain research• Film • Break 10:45• First session 11:00• Lunch 11:45• Second session 12:45• Third session 1:30• Wrap up 2:15

•No pre-visit instruction•Background instruction•Review of schedule

1. Review of schedule2. Background instruction3. No pre-visit instruction

Introduction of guest experts

• Ruben Gur: doctor of neuropsychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.

• Sandra Howze: founder of Stratford Friends School, the first Quaker school for children who learn differently.

• Mariendl Hufford: director of the Center for Learning, Teaching and Professional Development at Woodlynde School.

From the mission statement

Ultimately, the Baldwin community aspires to cultivate in each student the ability and the courage to continue giving and growing as a continue giving and growing as a scholarscholar, , a woman and a human being.

Children learn what you do, not what you say.

• Be the life long learner

you want your students

to be.

• Keep an open mind

about the activities

today.

Differentiated Instruction

• Differentiated Instruction is a teaching theory based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students in classrooms.

• To differentiate instruction is to recognize students' varying – background knowledge, – readiness, – language, – preferences in learning, – and interests,

• and to react responsively.

• Differentiated instruction is a process to approach teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class.

• The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximizemaximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where she is, and assisting in the learning process.

• Today we will be focusing on the DIFFERENTIATED part of Differentiated Instruction

• Later in the year we will focus on the INSTRUCTION part of Differentiated Instruction

My own view of students and learning

• Every brain is unique and has strengths and weaknesses.

• No one uses only one modality when learning, but some prefer one over another.

• The brain is flexible and can be taught to do things it once was not very good at.

• I do not like the term “learning disablility” as it suggests that someone is not able to learn. I prefer “learning difference” as more hopeful.

• If you think someone is not smart, it is very hard to teach them well.

How learning styles can vary:• You may prefer visual learning or verbal

learning or learning by doing• You may like to have the whole picture first

or to start by learning the details• You may like to think and read or you may

like to talk to find out what you think• You might learn best while quiet and still or

you may learn best while moving.• This list could go on and on

Three important areas of learning

• Attention: can you focus on the salient input?

• Memory: can you use that focus to hold on to information and process it in order to remember it?

• Language: can you access the language you need in order to express and receive information verbally?

Exit papers

• On the pad that was on your chair, write answers to the following questions, one on each side:– What are you hoping to take away from the

inservice day today?– What do you think differentiated instruction

means?

• Hand it in by putting it in the box at the door when you leave.