January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 1 Trecina Green, Bureau Director Office of Curriculum and Instruction Understanding How to Make the Right Choices for Diverse Learners This presentation is based upon information presented in Differentiating Instruction with Style by Gayle Gregory.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 2 How can teachers make the right choices for diverse learners? Develop an understanding of the five natural process of learning systems. Recognize that the classroom is full of diverse learners. Get to know the learners. Consider the “how” of teaching and learning. Respond with differentiated activities.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 3 Five Natural Learning Process Systems Emotional Learning System Social Learning System Physical Learning System Cognitive Learning System Reflective Learning System

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 4 How can teachers enhance the Emotional Learning System? Believe all students will learn. Honor student differences. Connect the learning to students’ lives. Provide multiple ways for students to show what they know. Challenge students appropriately at their level.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 5 How can teachers enhance the Emotional Learning System? Laugh and celebrate with students. Foster intrinsic motivation and pride. Cultivate students’ intrinsic motivation through goal setting and reflection. Provide a climate that is supportive, inclusive, and predictable.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 6 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Emotional System Provide positive climate Provide safety Provide relevancy and meaning Provide a supportive learning community

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 7 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Emotional System Classroom Strategies Build trust Provide appropriate challenge and feedback Adjust assignments

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 8 What is the teacher’s role in the Emotional Learning System? Cheerleader Mentor

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 9 How can teachers enhance the Social Learning System? Provide opportunities for students to work in cooperative groups. Allow students to develop social interactions as they learn. Create a classroom climate that provides respect for all learners.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 10 How can teachers enhance the Social Learning System? Provide recognition for students’ aspirations and hopes. Provide real-world learning opportunities.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 11 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Social Learning System Provide respect Provide interaction Allow authentic situations Provide inclusion Allow interpersonal sharing

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 12 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Social Learning System Classroom Strategies Develop norms Use teambuilding activities Outlaw “put downs” Use cooperative group learning Use simulations

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 13 What is the teacher’s role in the Social Learning System? Consultant Coach

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 14 How can teachers enhance the Cognitive Learning System? Focus on language development, attention, and memory The emotional, social, and physical learning systems must be functioning to work at its optimal potential

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 15 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Cognitive Learning System Promote academic skill Connect prior learning and new learning Seek patterns, themes, and concepts See the parts and the whole

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 16 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Cognitive Learning System Classroom Strategies Thinking skills Graphic organizers Advance organizers Note taking and summarizing Hypothesizing Problem solving

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 17 What is the teacher’s role in the Cognitive Learning System? Facilitator

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 18 Importance of enhancing the Physical Learning System Lowers stress levels Supplies more oxygen to the brain Supplies more glucose to the brain Provides hands-on movement Provides active learning

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 19 Meeting the needs and preferences of the physical learning system Require active involvement Provide challenging tasks that encourage practice

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 20 Meeting the needs and preferences of the physical learning system Classroom Strategies Mime Pantomine Role play Model building Hands-on activities Simulations

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 21 What is the teacher’s role in the Physical Learning System? Coach

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 22 How can teachers enhance the Reflective Learning System? Allow students to reflect on successes and failures Promote self-directed learning Allow students to reflect on their own learning style

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 23 Meeting the needs and preferences of the Reflective Learning System Classroom Strategies Logs Journals Goal setting

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 24 What is the teacher’s role in the Reflective Learning System? Gold Miner

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 25 Learning System Roles Learning System Emotional Social Cognitive Physical Reflective Role Cheerleader / Mentor Consultant / Coach Facilitator Coach Gold Miner

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 26 Three Modes of Learning Visual Auditory Tactile/Kinesthetic

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 27 Visual Learners Use visual language when communicating Appreciate order Make lists and writes things down Prefer reading and diagrams Create pictures in their mind

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 28 Auditory Learners Prefer verbal instructions Like to be read to Like to talk Learn by talking to themselves Like lectures and audiotapes Like the telephone and radio Use auditory language

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 29 Kinesthetic Learners Prefer sports and dancing Solve problems while moving Touch while communicating Use language of action and feelings Stay in motion (e.g. tap or drum on desk)

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 30 Analogies for Learning Style Synthesis Beach ball learner Clipboard learner Microscope learner Puppy learner

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 31 Characteristics of Beach Ball Learners Inventive Competitive Value creativity Use feelings to construct new ideas

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 32 Characteristics of Clipboard Learners Focus on tasks Value relevant information Work best in structured environments Absorb information concretely

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 33 Characteristics of Microscope Learners Like to analyze Read avidly to learn Appreciate lecture Prefer to explore ideas

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 34 Characteristics of Puppy Learners Like to work with imaginative ideas Value positive environments Work best in interactive environments Reflect on experiences Appreciate concrete ideas and social interaction

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 35 Making the right choices for the classroom Look at how each theory correlates with research-based instructional practices, learning styles, and the natural learning system. Use a variety of tools such as surveys and checklists to assess multiple intelligences of learners.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 36 Making the right choices for the classroom Use brainstorming tools for instructional planning. Use choice boards for differentiated instruction. Consider thinking skills.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 37 Making the right choices for the classroom Teachers do not have to know every detail of each theory to differentiate instruction. Teachers do not have to individualize instruction for every student. Teachers should become more aware of the collective needs of students to know how students learn and how to differentiate instruction appropriately.

January 2007 Copyright © 2007 Mississippi Department of Education 38 Interested in Knowing More About this Book? Differentiating Instruction with Style by Gayle Gregory may be found in Box One of the Toolkit for Success. The toolkit has been provided to each district by the Office of Academic Education.Toolkit for Success