Students say a lot about their learning whether they are aware of it or not. Whether students are acting on their learning, helps others, disrupting lessons, or sit quietly with their arm crossed, they are participating in their learning. To help all learners, the classroom is equipped with labelled pictures, posters like the alphabet, colours, and numbers, and a visual schedule if the day’s activities to help guide student learning.
In any teacher’s classroom one can notice some accommodations that diversify the learning needs in the classroom. Rearranging the students’ desk configuration can better address student needs and behaviour issues we see in the classroom. As we move students around, we put certain students in designated areas to help them have a greater learning experience. Placing weaker students next to stronger students so that they can assist them, is a strategic seating plan as stronger students who finish before their weaker peers can help them through the task at hand. Also having a tent for a quiet space to work, read, or calm down for students who need a separate space to discover is a great space to have in a classroom.
These are just a few accommodations that differentiate learning in the classroom. These are strategies that are necessary for some students, but that benefit them all. Other accommodations in terms of differentiation depends on student IEP’s and their needs. Some activities need to be modified to allow students to succeed. A common example of an accommodation I do in my classroom during writing activities is preparing a fill in the blank type sheet for students who struggle with writing, while the others write everything out in full sentences. This strategy allows students to express themselves without the added struggle of writing for them.
All in all, there are many strategies to differentiate learning in any classroom, and it is dependant on the learners of your class. As a teacher, you must always be willing to adapt and invite new learning models and strategies into the classroom to ensure an inclusive, engaging and rewarding learning experience for all students.