2. Teaching Diverse Learners9
Teaching Diverse Learners

3. Analyze personal learning styles and intelligences.
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4. Teaching Diverse Learners
Learning diversity includes
different learning styles
physical, social, emotional, or mental challenges
language barriers
differences in ethnicity or cultural customs

5. Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences
Recognize each student as an individual
Understanding differences in how students learn can help teachers maximize learning for more students

6. Learning Styles Learning styles include visual learners
auditory learners
kinesthetic-tactile learners
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7. Learning Styles
Teachers can plan lessons to incorporate different modes of learning
Teachers can use different styles to help individual students
They can avoid emphasizing one particular learning style when teaching

8. Visual Learners Learn best by seeing information Reading Writing notes
Drawing, viewing pictures, watching movies
Highlighting

9. Auditory Learners Learn best by hearing information Lectures
Discussions
Reciting out loud
Tunes and rhythms
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10. Kinesthetic-Tactile Learners
Learn best by doing or through hands-on activity
Use objects for representation
Studying with others
Working through a procedure

11. What type of learner are you?
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12. Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner published his theory of multiple intelligences
List continues to expand and evolve
Teachers find that drawing on different types of intelligences helps students learn more and expand all areas of intelligence
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13. Multiple Intelligences
Type of Intelligence
Strength
Logical-mathematical
Logical problems, math
Spatial
Visualizing
Bodily-kinesthetic
Hands-on activities, movement
Linguistic
Words
Musical
Rhythm, sound patterns
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14. Multiple Intelligences
Type of Intelligence
Strength
Intrapersonal
Analyzer of self, strength/weaknesses
Interpersonal
Communication
Naturalistic
Analyzing environment
Existentialist
Philosophical questions

15. Which of Gardner’s intelligences do you think is your strongest? Why?
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16. Tapping Individual Learning Strengths
Benefits include
understanding student potential; can improve students’ attitudes toward learning
using varied teaching techniques; draws on a wider range of student strengths
allowing more student choice; allows students to draw on their strengths
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17. Tapping Individual Learning Strengths
Benefits include
helping individual learners; the teacher can help students find techniques that match their personal strengths
helping all learners; students can strengthen other learning techniques
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18. Tapping Individual Learning Strengths
Teachers can incorporate tips and techniques for gaining skills into regular lessons
Reminders
Explanations
Examples
Checklists
Organizational aids

19. Identify methods schools can use to help gifted and talented learners and students with special needs reach their potential.
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20. Exceptional Learners Two main groups of exceptional learners:
Gifted and talented
Learners with special needs

21. Gifted and Talented Learners
Students who have abilities significantly greater than those of others their age
Gifted: excel academically
Talented: outstanding skills in music, art, theater, dance, leadership

22. Supporting the Gifted and Talented
Provide in-class enrichment; learning opportunities during regular classes
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23. Supporting the Gifted and Talented
Use self-paced learning; students can move on when they are ready
Skipping a grade; may cause problems with social-emotional skills
Attending special schools (such as magnet schools)
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24. Supporting the Gifted and Talented
Providing pull-out programs; leaving regular classes for advanced classes
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25. Supporting the Gifted and Talented
Participating in extracurricular programs; improve knowledge and skills in all areas of interest
Taking advanced classes; may include community college or university classes
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26. Supporting the Gifted and Talented
Some teachers specialize in teaching gifted and talented learners
Regular classroom teachers may also have gifted and talented students
They need to provide these students with more rigorous activities
Gifted or talented students may be grouped for projects

27. Learners with Special Needs
Special needs may include physical, mental, social, and behavioral challenges
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public schools must create Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with special needs
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28. Learners with Special Needs
The plan also describes specific accommodations necessary
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29. Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities
Mainstreaming: students are placed in one or more regular classes; not treated as special students
Inclusion: students are in special classes but not expected to keep up academically
Special education: adapted programs with extra staff and specialized equipment to help students with special needs learn

30. What do you think are the pros and cons of mainstreaming and inclusion?
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31. Develop classroom strategies for ensuring an atmosphere of respect for all students.
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32. Cultural Diversity Schools reflect the diversity of the U.S.
Many people identify with a specific ethnic group based on their heritage
Ethnicity: a particular racial, national, or cultural group
Includes that group’s customs, beliefs, values, and often language and religion

33. Using Diversity to Enrich Learning
Diversity can encourage new ideas, opinions, and experiences
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34. Using Diversity to Enrich Learning
Schools need to encourage respect and tolerance
Some schools see diversity as a source of conflict
School administrators must set the tone; teachers must model acceptance
Stereotypes have no place in schools
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35. Using Diversity to Enrich Learning
Teachers must be sensitive to students’ individuality
Teachers can learn about students’ cultures by
meeting with parents
listening to students’ stories
studying cultural traditions

36. What steps can you take to promote acceptance of diversity in your classroom?
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37. Identify the difficulties English language learners face and how classroom teachers can help them.
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38. Language Diversity
Limited English proficiency (LEP) and English language learners (ELL) face the challenge of learning English in school
Some students attend bilingual programs
Others attend English as a Second Language (ESL) program

39. Helping English Language Learners
Teachers may use several methods
Speaking clearly
Printing assignments on the board
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40. Helping English Language Learners
Summarizing
Demonstrating
Giving step-by-step instructions
Having students work in pairs and groups
Providing study guides, vocabulary

41. The Challenge of Teaching Diverse Learners
Learn students’ individual learning styles, strengths, abilities, and interests
Differentiated instruction provides options that fit students’ needs
Varying student groups can help meet different needs

42. What are some ways you will support diversity in your classroom as a teacher?
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43. Teachers can help all students learn by understanding different learning styles and multiple intelligences
Exceptional learners may need special learning opportunities
Schools can help prepare students for the diversity of the workplace by respecting diversity in the classroom

44. What type of learner learns best by performing hands-on or physical activities?
kinesthetic-tactile
In Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, people with ____ intelligence are good with rhythm and sound patterns.
musical
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45. How are magnet schools organized?
to emphasize a particular subject area
What is differentiated instruction?
teaching that incorporates learning options to better meet the specific learning-related characteristics of individual students