It is a curiosity of teaching that
no two days are alike, but, if we are not careful, all the days can take on a
deadening sameness. We must remember that we have every opportunity to
transform ourselves and our practice, just as we have every opportunity to
stagnate, remaining much the same teachers we were when we began. -
Carol Ann Tomlinson
I have learned so much through the process of becoming an
advocate and being an advocate. I am
excited to make a difference and to educate other childcare professionals on a
new important topic. My host teacher is
inspiring, because she really knows her students. My topic, differentiated instruction, is
implemented in my host classroom. I am
excited to have her support and encouragement as I communicate with other
professionals in the school and work to make a difference.
I am confident that my advocacy efforts will be effective;
I feel I can encourage teachers I have targeted, to be more aware of how they
can implement differentiated instruction in their classroom, and why it is so
important in young children’s development.
I am worried that some teachers will not want to hear about my advocacy
plan, and may feel there is already not enough time. Some teachers may think that implementing
differentiated instructional strategies is just more work; I hope to teach them
otherwise.
I am already feeling anxiety about presenting my plan. I have not yet overcome speaking in front of
people. I know I will have to prepare
and practice in order to do well. I feel
that fully understanding my goals, my action plan, my topic, and how my target
audience can make a difference, will be most effective in helping me overcome
my challenging emotions. I want to be
sure that I am organized with how I want the presentation to go. I feel that having a visual; for the audience
look at during the presentation, and facts to take away from the presentation
and share with other professionals.
I feel that the biggest part of being an effective advocate
is being knowledgeable about the topic; to be able to answer any questions your
audience may have. It is important to
believe in what you are trying to encourage others to do. I have learned that communication is an
important tool in being an advocate.
There is so much we can learn from one another. I know there are many
ways that my colleagues can encourage me, but I am not able to think of any
specific examples right now.
Hello Sarah
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the quote that you posted because as educators we learn everyday something knew and that is how we become knowlegable of situations that we encounter. Well Sarah before my collegues would advice me to look at the back of the room instead of the people. But I think if you look at your audiences they will get your eye contact an see you sincere about what you are talking about therefore if you have a power point focus on the power point but continue to focus on you audiences at times. Good Luck eventually you will be able to achieve your goal and fear of speaking in a crowd of people.
Hello Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI have never read that quote before, up until now, and it is awesome! I know I want to have some new ideas for different situations as they occur, and keep boredom away as I teach.
I am excited about advocating myself, even though I am still trying to connect my plan. It is just the thought of being able to help others, and stand up for something you really want to make a difference in.
I think some of the teachers will fail to see the importance of our plans that we would like to see changes in because of the time frame that is already allowed to try and implement the other activities; but no matter what, I am going to try and prevent my plan to the best of my abilities once I get on the right track with my strategies. I am still uncertain about those.
I know a lot more about advocating compared to when I first got started. I thought the plan just consist of mainly the people involved; but it did not dawn on me it there needs to be people who can help initiate things, and get the job done; but now I know better.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteAs a preschool teacher, I differentiate for my children every day in almost everything we do. Considering the wide range of abilities and interests in young children, it just makes sense to provide learning experiences that meet their individual needs. Important, differentiation is a practice that is developmentally appropriate, so we have DAP to support and guide us as we make intentional plans to teach each child in the way he or she learns best.
I think that one of the obstacles you may come up against is the teachers' perception of the time and effort it takes to differentiate for students. I believe that one of the best ways to differentiate is to use a center-based approach in the classroom. Again, this is easy for me to understand because it is so appropriate for preschool children; I have experience in setting up centers in my classroom that accommodate a number of abilities and learning styles. However, primary grade teachers don't seem to rely on this approach because they see it as taking a great deal of time and effort to plan, organize, and implement. In addition, I believe that they may not be able to visualize how this looks in the primary classroom. There is an element of responsibility and self-discipline that is added to a center-based approach in the primary grades that allows the students to develop those abilities in a developmentally appropriate manner. I saw a marked difference in engagement and motivation in the children in the first and second grade classrooms that used this approach during my Kendall fieldwork. The teachers differentiated within each center using kits that they had developed and added to over the years, so it didn't take much time once the initial planning had been done. The centers were developed to meet standards, with ways to assess learning included in the center activities. Does your advocacy agenda include training in using a center-based approach to differentiated instruction? Is it possible to visit classrooms that use this approach as a mobilization strategy or to host an event that showcases a variety of centers and other approaches for differentiation?
I support your view that differentiation is a must for effective teaching and learning. Good luck as you present your plan to the teachers at your site. You have an important message to convey!
Differentiated instruction is critical in early childhood classrooms. Young children have a wide range of skills and it is important to focus on different techniques to convey the same message. In my classroom, I am dealing with a wide range of cultural differences, especially in terms of language. It is imperative for me to use visual and auditory devices such as projectors, headphones, and computer applications when helping the children learn in a positive way. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMs. Sarah Lynn, I want to take this time to send a great appreciation to you and the positive advice you gave throughout this term, I'm truly thankful to have someone to believe in the effort I put towards my advocacy plan, it truly means more than you know. I wish you continued success in your next accomplishments.
ReplyDelete