Meeting my Students' Needs
- mariabecht
- Jan 25, 2017
- 2 min read
Being in a new classroom, I have new students who have needs that I am starting to learn about. I am currently working with my students under the learner centered lens to uncover their needs. In How Students Learn, the author states that this lens encourages “attention to preconceptions, and begins instruction with what students think and know.” I focus on starting are when the students are at in their learning and by getting to know them. I am doing this by studying student work/writing responses, looking at student data, and of course by building strong positive relationship with the students. While working with students, I try to understand their backgrounds and values, in addition to abilities.
Some questions I ask to get to know my students are:
"Do you have any siblings"
"What do you like to do"
"What is your favorite class and why"
I am getting to know my students so I can put them into the Zone Of Proximal Development. According to EdPsych: Modules in this zone "children develop new skills and internalize more advanced ways of thinking, reaching a new level of potential development." Teachers put their students in the Zone of Proximal Development when they push their students in their learning. This happens when the students are presented with “just right” challenges for their learning levels.
I have been working with an ELL/ESE student and have learned about her needs so I can push her into the Zone of Proximal Development. During independent reading time I pull her aside to work with her. I selected a book for her that was challenging, but not too difficult that she could not read it. I told her I was excited to read with her and then asked her to read the book to me after a picture walk. The girl struggled while reading but with encouragement she was able to finish the book! I praised her effort and hard work, as this builds students up according to Managing Diverse Classrooms.
Above, I have an image of the child's written work of things she can do to connect the book to life experiences!
Below is an image of the lesson I used to help while working with the child.
I also practiced sight words with child after reading and gave her practice ones to take home. This is an important skill for students to master to aid them in reading and other learning experiences.
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