Honor Through Caring

To sum up my perspective of differentiation and my view of its place in my class is not an easy or simple statement.  My own personal experience with differentiation during my school years is a testament to its importance and assistance it provides the learner.  I have a learning disability that until one teacher in my 10th grade year noticed held me back in my education.  Once discovered and properly diagnosed my grades improved greatly and my desire to progress increased.  I moved from an average student to the top of the class through assistance and tools provided by my teachers and family (my twin brother was aslo diagnosed at the same time and he increased at the same rate as I did).  My teachers didn't lower the bar but allowed for adjustments that changed my experience.  Tomlinson states that "Learning is hard work.  People learn better when they feel valued and supported.  To value and support learners, we must know them.  We honor learners by caring for them as they are and simultaneously expecting more of them.  People learn differently...teachers must teach flexibly."  I am a living testament to these words.  I can make a difference with my students by putting in the effort to care for and expect more of every student I have the privileged to work with. 

I can make a difference each and every day through differentiation.

Creating a Useful Toolbox

I love to use tools to build different things.  I have a lot of interesting tools that are used for specific jobs.  One of my new favorite tools is a drain pipe cutter, this makes fitting old pipes with new pipes as easy as putting a Lego kit together.  My wife has made many offhanded remarks about my need for tools as she didn't understand how the correct tool makes the job go better and the finished product much nicer.  It took her using one of my specialty tools for her to realize this point.

What do tools have to do with teaching?  When we started the Education program each of us began with a new toolbox that was virtually empty.  Some of us may have had a single tool or even a few small tools in our box ready to be used in the classroom.  UVU then began to provide tools that we as teachers will need and use daily as a teacher.  One of the most important tool to date is that of understanding differentiation and how it can change a classroom.  This is a specialty tool just like my drain pipe cutter.  It allows for the proper fitting of curriculum and the students abilities with out having to scrap the entire lesson.

Just like a new tool if you do not know how to use the tool it becomes less effective and eventually discarded.  The only way to know the proper way to use the tools we have is through proper reading of the manual then using the tool in a practical application.  Differentiation is no different, you must learn how to use it properly then use it.  One of my class mates posted a differentiation map that I think is a great reminder of how to use the tool.  This is important and will change lives!

Make A Difference

I love spending time with kids and watching how easily they take the hand they were dealt and make it the best hand ever.  I have been reflecting on what makes a good teacher and with out a doubt in my mind it is one that plans each and every lesson or activity with their students in mind.  One of the students I work with has had a difficult upbringing and yet they are happy.  I think its time that we all have a little pep-talk.

We are all students, we are all Teachers, and we can make a difference.

Pave the Road

The Teaching profession is not for the faint of heart nor is it an easy job.  Many have gone before us and provided us a road map that may lead us to a goal but not every map leads us to our goal.  Every teacher has reflected upon those that made a difference in their life and we often want to emulate what we have seen or experienced.  This is a great goal but doesn't get us to our own goal of effecting the students we teach.   We must find our own path that leads to success.  I have often thought of the many different teachers that prepared me for this task and wondered what makes them great.  The only answer I can think of is they love teaching but most importantly the love the students.

Teaching is not an easy job.  We will face disappointment, heart break, and sorrow along our way but we will ultimately find satisfaction in knowing that we can and do make a difference in the lives of our students.  We are paving the way for the future CEO, fathers, mothers, presidents, inventors, and protectors of our nation and world.  We can and will make a difference whether good or bad we will make a difference.  Every student is different.  Every life is different.  We can not assume that if we plan a lesson it will be received the same by each student.  If there is one thing that we need to know its that we must be willing to adjust, adapt, and differentiate for our students based upon their needs.  If we had the time we would teach every student their own lesson but that not reasonable.  We can and should make accommodation and adjustments for the one who needs it.  That is the definition of caring.  Love your students enough to help them succeed.

Teaching is caring.
Teaching is hard work.
Teaching is love.
Teaching is long nights.
Teaching is worth every ounce of sweat and tears that come.
Teaching is a worthy and honorable calling.
Teaching is Differentiation

Pave the road for every student not just the ones that fit in a tidy mold.  It will change their life and yours at the same time.