DI Chaps. 1-7

Multiple Intelligences is one of the most influential factors of differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction is so important to do in the classroom because everyone learns differently. By differentiating the instruction in using various learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approaches, the teacher is covering more students’ needs, therefore teaching more kids. It gives students of different learning styles and abilities the opportunity to learn in equally appropriate ways as their fellow classmates. Through DI, students are responsible for creating their own learning. This makes the classroom environment student-centered, with the teacher as the facilitator of learning. In addition, teachers must incorporate students’ interests and prior knowledge. When students use a form of learning that makes sense to them and are interested in the subject matter, they only want to continue learning to fulfill their curiosities.

Creekside Elementary requires that differentiated instruction be used in the curriculum of each grade. Each teacher has to label and highlight the activities that involve differentiated instruction in the lesson plans that get turned into the administration on a regular basis.  Because I am in an inclusion classroom, I get to see differentiated instruction used first-hand on a daily basis. Our class listens to their story from a CD, as well as reading it from the book. Furthermore, students are asked to interpret the story in their own way and provide an illustration on the events occurring in the story. The class also works in group activities, pairs, individually, and even one-on-one with the teacher.

A teacher should never just give up on these “struggling learners.” I have realized that some students are easier to teach than others, but the important thing all educators must remember is that all students are capable of learning. One of the best ways to discover a child’s learning style is by observation. If that does not work, a teacher should try all the learning styles until she or he finds one that is best for the certain student.