Differentiation blog

Readings: Blackboard article, Part 1 from Differentiation in Practice and Chapters 1 and 2 from Fulfilling the Promise

Okay, I'm not 100% sure what is expected from this blog, so I'm just going to talk about what I liked from them.

From the blackboard article I really liked how it gave the guidelines for how to make a good Morning Meetings. It said that morning meetings are the closest some of your students will come to a "breakfast conversation". And how even the students felt that it helped them focus better in school!

The Practice book did a good job of making me aware of what I'm getting into! It reminded me a lot of my last field experience. The teacher, Mrs. Cox, had math groups. Each week she would place the students into math groups depending on their level and then they would rotate through centers, one of which was direct instruction from the teacher. It worked really well for her, but I could see how it was more work on her part. However, if you're going to teach differentiation, its probably a good way to go! I also really liked the baseball camp metaphor. I feel that as teachers we will be doing the same thing the coach did (50% school instruction and 50% life instruction). We will be teaching our students about responsibility, being dependable, honest, how to study, focus, and so many social skills!

I felt that the readings in Fulfilling (chapters 1 and 2) were a lot like the Practice reading...I liked how it talked about every student wanting a personal connection to the teacher. Through teaching diversely I think we get to know the students on a personal level better.I am starting to see how Morning Meetings can help a student find what they seek (purpose, power, affirmation, contribution, and challenge). It makes sense to me that through a morning meeting we can make the students feel a part of a community.