Teaching Differing Proficiency Levels Dr. Latricia Trites Academic Advisor Fulbright Yilan Project

Problem Posing – Different Proficiency Levels In small groups, Describe the language ability levels of the students in your classes. Discuss what you do when you have students with different language proficiency or intellectual ability levels in your classroom?

Problem Posing – Different Learning Styles In small groups, Describe the learning styles or characteristics of the students in your classes. Discuss how you address different learning styles in your classroom?

Determining Students ’ Levels Needs Assessment –What do you know about their language performance? What can they do in the classroom (observation)? –What do you know about their background? Special education, gifted and talented, cram schools Parental role Proficiency Guidelines –Speaking GuidelinesSpeaking Guidelines –Writing GuidelinesWriting Guidelines Plan of Action

Teaching Considerations Students ’ learning process Teacher ’ s role Teacher talk –Role of native language Authenticity of language Fluency and accuracy Student creativity Classroom techniques Listening and speaking goals Reading and writing goals Grammar

Differing Learning Styles Take a sheet of paper and draw three columns. In each column, describe three different people that you know well. Compare your list of people in a small group. Finally, as an entire group, let ’ s list the classroom activities at which these people would excel.

Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Visual-Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalistic Concept by Howard Gardner

Learning Styles Comparison Active vs. Reflective Learner Sensing vs. Intuitive Learner Visual vs. Verbal Learner Sequential vs. Global Learner Based on Felder & Soloman

Differentiated Curriculum Plan alternative activities for different student proficiencies. Set lesson objectives that all students must meet, then set other objectives for more advanced learners. Remember to challenge student to their ability level; otherwise, you ’ ll overwhelm the slower students and bore the advanced students.

Suggested Alternative Activities Pair work Group work Centers (reading, listening, computers, videos, etc.) Puzzles, games, story boards, etc. Songs

Break-out Activity In groups of 3-4, think of a lesson/activity that you recently taught. –How could you modify it for slower learners? –How could you modify it for more advanced learners? –What activities could you add, remove, etc.?

Discussion How can you implement these alternative activities in your classroom?