2
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
Middle school has always been a passion of mines, middle school is a very important
time for children in their development. Children in middle school are developing skills and
habits that are going to stick with them for the rest of their lives. My class is a 7th grade class
with 24 students. Additionally, I have 6 students that have a co-teacher that travels along with
them to every class. The standard that I’ve chosen comes from the Georgia standards of
excellence: “7.NR.1.1 Show that a number and its opposite have a sum of 0 (are additive
inverses). Describe situations in which opposite quantities combine to make 0. (Georgia
Standards of Excellence, 2023)” The standard that I’ve chosen deals with positive and
negative numbers and is one of the first standards in 7th grade. Usually when I teach this subject,
I present a video of a recent football game and I explain how positive and negative numbers are
incorporated in each play. While watching the video, I would draw a number line with the result
of every play I would draw an arrow in the direction from the result of the play. This strategy
has been very helpful because students are able to visually understand how positive and negative
numbers are incorporated into our lives. For the students that still struggle with the concept, the
co-teacher and I would break into small groups with one of us enhancing the knowledge of the
advance learners and bridging the gap with the lower learners. It’s important to always try to
give students a strong start into a new standard so they can be confident in their abilities to
succeed.
Some teachers may think that teaching gifted learners is easier, but you’re expected to
receive less behavior issues. According to the National Association for Gifted Children Gifted
students are defined as “Students with gifts and talents perform—or have the capability to
perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in
one or more domains (National Association for Gifted Children, 2018)”. Teaching
3
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
gifted students presents a different set of challenges that many teachers may be unaware of.
When it comes to gifted students, it’s important to consistently challenge them so they can
expand their understanding. One of the best ways to expand the understanding of gifted learners
is to have them in small groups. Many groups are an excellent way to individualize the lesson
based on each learners understanding. Even in gifted classes, you will have learners with a range
of understanding (Bauer, 2013). With the lesson that was presented in the first paragraph, I
would expand their understand by having them work through multi-digit positive and negative
integers. In addition to small groups, I would present multi-colored Algebra tiles to the class.
How I would use algebra tiles is that I would present the class with an addition problem and
based on how many negative and positive numbers are listed, they would have to pair them up
and whatever is left is the answer. Algebra tiles are a hands on manipulated that can help those
students that are visual learners. Another strategy that I would when teaching gifted learners is
to incorporate independent study into the lesson. From my own personal experience, gifted
learners can be more motivated in the classroom and for that reason, allowing them to participate
in independent study is a great way to them to grown and trust their learning (Goree, 2023).
Teaching gifted learners can present teachers with new challenges that are unique to the gift
environment and it’s important for teachers to learn new and different strategies that will benefit
these gifted learners.
No matter the course, grade or if they labeled as gifted, teachers will encounter struggling
students. Signs of a struggling student are but not limited to: Doesn’t raise hand or contribute to
class discussions, Appears zoned out or distracted during lessons, rarely asks questions or seeks
clarification and poor test scores. Teaching struggling students requires a new set of strategies
4
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
and one being to provide one on one intervention as stated in an article by Bryan Matera called
five principles for supporting struggling learners (Matera, 2020). One on one intervention
provides struggling students with a more relaxed and comfortable environment because it
eliminates any distraction that they may have in a normal classroom environment. Another
strategy that could really help struggling students is to scaffold the lesson. Scaffolding a lesson is
a great way to break down a lesson to aid in a student’s understanding. With adding and
subtracting integers, I would scaffold this lesson by first introducing negative numbers and what
they mean. Providing this base level understanding could help explain to these struggling
students when we would add or subtract integers. After explaining what a negative number is, I
would start them off slow with adding and subtracting single digit integers using a number line.
After using these scaffolding strategies, they students should be ready for the actual lesson of
adding and subtracting integer.
Throughout a teacher’s career, they may encounter an English Language Learner (ELL)
student. An English language learner is a student whose primary language is not English, and
whose English proficiency or lack thereof provides a barrier to successful learning (Council for
Exceptional Children, 2017). Teaching ELL student presents another level of challenges that a
person may not have experience before or can relate to. A great deal of patience is needed for
dealing with all types of students, especially English Language Learners. The University of San
Diego’s Professional and Continuing Education center suggest that learning your student’s
culture is important to their success (University of San Diego Professional and Continue
Education, 2024). The university also states:
5
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
Since many English language learners come from outside the U.S., part of creating the
ideal learning atmosphere may include cultivating an appreciation of diversity.
Developing an awareness of each student’s background, religious and cultural practices
may also provide insights that affect how you interact with a particular student.
Being flexible is more important when teaching ELL students because in some cases, the teacher
is unfamiliar with that student’s culture. The benefit of teaching math is that numbers are a
universal language, and I may have an easier time teaching ELL student than an English
language arts teacher. Georgia Southern University addresses giving these students patience
when they are learning a new lesson (Goldenberg, 2008). As a teacher, we all must continue
being flexible and patience with our students as they continue to learn and grow.
Students dealing with trauma brings in a different level challenges that a teacher must be
sensitive towards. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration states
“Childhood trauma is a distressing or emotionally painful event that a child experiences that can
have a lasting mental and physical effects” (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service
Administration, n.d.). Texas Association of School Boards states that a strategy that all teachers
should use is to learn about trauma and how it affects students. Being an informed teacher when
it comes to trauma in students is one of the best strategies that a teacher can do when it comes to
working with students with trauma. Being informed will allow the teacher to respond
accordingly (Keller, 2023). Children experiencing trauma may have emotional outburst at any
sign of discomfort. The National Child Trauma Stress Network believe that’s teachers should
scaffold certain lessons that may cause additional stress to students (Child Trauma Toolkit for
Educators, 2023). It’s important to be aware of the stressors that may cause a student to have an
6
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
outburst because trauma can make a student more sensitive to their stresses. Unfortunately,
many of our students come to us with stress but it doesn’t mean they are less capable.
Being a teacher comes with a wide set of challenges, from struggling learners to dealing
with students with trauma. Teachers must be flexible and process patience with their students.
A key strategy that a teacher can use for all types of students is to implement small groups into
each lesson. Small groups are a great way to address student deficiencies. In addition to small
groups, teachers should scaffold their lessons so students can have a baseline understanding of
the lesson. Students enter the classroom on different levels both academically and emotionally
and the flexibility of the teacher will be a key part in the success of every child.
Bibliography
7
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
Bauer, S. (2013). GIFTED STUDENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEACHERS.
Retrieved from University of Delaware College of Education:
https://www.education.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/GiftedStu
dents.pdf
Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators. (2023). Child Trauma Toolkit for
Educators. Los Angeles: National Child Trauma Stress Network .
Council for Exceptional Children. (2017). English Language Learner. Retrieved
from Council for Exceptional Children:
https://exceptionalchildren.org/topics/english-language-learners
Georgia Standards of Excellence. (2023). Grade 7 - Unit 1: Making Relevant
Connections within the Number System. Atlanta: Georgia Department
of Education.
Goldenberg, C. (2008). Teaching English Language Learners: What the
Research Does - And Does Not - Say . Statesboro: Georgia Southern
University.
Goree, S. K. (2023). Teaching Gifted Students Through Independent Study.
Wellington: Ministry of Education Te Tahhuhu o TE Matauranga.
Keller, a. (2023, March 11). This Is How Childhood Trauma Affects Students
and What You Can Do. Retrieved from Texas Association of School
Boards: https://www.tasb.org/news-insights/this-is-how-childhood-
trauma-affects-students-and-what-you-can-do
Matera, B. (2020, January 8). Five principles for supporting struggling
learners . Retrieved from Teacher Magazine:
8
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/five-principles-for-
supporting-struggling-learners
National Association for Gifted Children. (2018). What is Giftedness?
Retrieved from National Association for Gifted Children:
https://nagc.org/page/what-is-giftedness
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. (n.d.).
Recognizing and Treating Child Traumatic Stress . Retrieved from
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration:
https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/recognizing-and-treating-child-
traumatic-stress#:~:text=Childhood%20traumatic%20stress
%20occurs%20when,and%20community%20and%20school
%20violence
University of San Diego Professional and Continue Education. (2024). 11
Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners [For Any
Teacher]. Retrieved from University of San Diego Professional and
Continue Education: https://pce.sandiego.edu/11-essential-strategies-
for-teaching-english-language-learners-for-any-teacher/
