Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 2
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
The class that I will be teaching is a first-grade class. The class consists of eighteen students. The
school is in a middle-class area, and it the behavior support elementary in the school division.
This elementary school is also a Title 1 elementary school. The classroom has a variety of
different learners, from gifted learners, struggling learners, English Language Learners, and
students affected by trauma. In this classroom there are two gifted students, four struggling
learners, three English learners, and one student who was affected by a trauma. The Virginia
Standard of Learning that will be taught is a mathematical standard for first graders. Standard
1.2a in the Number and Number Sense category which says that “The student, given up to 110
objects, will group a collection into tens and ones and write the corresponding numeral”
(Education). To promote this standard, I will create a hands-on activity with manipulatives to
help students master the skill. The children will all be given a rainbow place value mat, a pipe
cleaner, and Froot Loops so that we can build rainbows with ones and tens. I will have one or
two students give me a two-digit dumber to create, and I will model how to build that number
with Froot Loops on the hovercam. I will then create two more numbers and call on students to
tell me the number I built and explain how they figured it out. Then we will begin working
individually, and I will walk around the class checking the students building the numbers I have
given them. While checking induvial progress I will have the students build a number for me,
and explain the place value, and how they figured out the number. At the end, the students will
be able to understand the place value of ones and tens, and how to model it with base ten blocks
and other manipulatives. The relationship between numbers will be understood by the students
and they will be able to communicate that with the teacher and peers.
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 3
Gifted Learners
Instructing a gifted student can come with many struggles, surprises, and successes. A
gifted learner is” 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. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize
their potential” (What is Giftedness?). There are multiple types of modifications that one can
take to help increase a gifted students educational experience. For this lesson I would choose to
have a tiered learning plan. “This approach relies on planning lessons or units at different tiers of
difficulty” (Azzam, 2016). While we are working on the place value for ones and tens, I would
also have my gifted students work on building place value in the hundreds place as well. This
gives the gifted students a chance to dig deeper into the place value subject and challenges them
with their work so that they do not become bored during the activity. This allows them to master
the goal that was said in the standard. While it may take more time in the planning stage it is
beneficial overall because it gives them a goal to work towards and allows extra time to work
with the other students who need support.
Another effective teaching strategy for gifted students would be to speak to the students'
interests. Start by recognizing what a student's interests are and creating work for them to
complete on that basis. “An imaginational student will benefit from an assignment that he's free
to complete in a unique way” (Azzam, 2016). For instance, a student who has an interest in Legos
may enjoy building complex numbers in place value with the Legos. This allows the students
creativity to shine through while completing the objective set out by the teacher and is a
representation of the standard.
Struggling Learners
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 4
A student struggling is far more common than people believe. Understanding that not
everything is easy, and you struggle in some areas is a life skill that children need to learn. By
understanding that struggling is normal the student will be able to persevere and move through it
with grace. “As a teacher, it often seems easier to help a struggling student out, rather than use
teaching strategies to give them the tools to get through it” (Cox, 2016). This strategy will
not allow the student to learn the material thus other ways need to be looked at. One
strategy that has worked is allowing the student to explain how they got their answer.
“Require that all students must come up with an answer and be able to explain how
they got it” (Cox, 2016). I have found this to be most effective as it gives me a chance
to see what mistake was made and help them to take the steps to figure out the correct
answer. Another strategy that is beneficial is to have the student write down all the
directions. A student may struggle with directions that are only given orally.
“Struggling students can often have a hard time paying attention and remembering things” (Cox,
2016). By having them write it down the student will have the resources right in front of them
and be able to look back it for guidance thus helping to reduce the urge to quit.
English Language Learners
English Language Learner students are students who have a linguistic diversity. A
linguistic diversity is “represents the range of native and non-native languages used by students
to learn” (Orlich, Harder, Brown, Trevisan, & Miller, 2018). While English Language Learner
students do not learn differently than the English native students in the classroom, they do need
added educational needs to be met to be successful. Having the English Language learner
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 5
paraeducator in the classroom to aid would be highly beneficial so that the students with the
language needs have extra educational support.
One strategy would be to cultivate a relationship and be culturally responsive. Intentional
lesson planning and communication from the teacher is necessary. “A successful classroom, our
educators agreed, is one in which students feel known, appreciated, and comfortable taking
emotional and intellectual risks” (Kaplan, 2019). Celebrating diversity in the classroom and
making it inclusive with the lessons that are taught. An idea would be in incorporate languages in
the lesson with place value. The teacher could have the students create the number 12 to show
that is the number of languages spoken by the students' families. Also using the number of
countries traveled or lived in by students as another number to create.
Another strategy that would be effective would be to differentiate and use multiple
modalities. “All kids learn better when they engage with material in multiple ways: Lessons that
involve writing, speaking, drawing, and listening, for example, give students four opportunities
to deepen their understanding of the work” (Kaplan, 2019). Since the language barrier is the
challenge, this gives them other ways to show that they are understanding the standard. After
creating the hands-on number with the manipulatives, the teacher could have them write down
the number, orally say the number outload, and then draw the number down so that the objective
has been presented in multiple ways.
Students Impacted by Trauma
Schools are not just for educational purposes for all students. Some students see school as
a place of refuge or escape from abuse. “According to the National Child Traumatic Stress
Network, close to 40 percent of students in the U.S. have been exposed to some form of
traumatic stressor in their lives, with sexual assault, physical assault, and witnessing domestic
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 6
violence being the three most prevalent. This type of trauma can have a direct effect on the brain
especially for children as they are still developing” (Waters, & Brunzell). Being aware of this
trauma is the first step in not only growth but healing.
Trauma informed learning is a strategy that can be used to help teach. This approach
gives teachers the skills to rectify issues such as delayed development, and over-regulated nervus
systems. For example, a teacher can help a student be able to calm their body when stressed by
finding techniques that will regulate things such as their heart rate. Teaching through rhythm—
for example, learning about math to the beat of a drum, is now an accepted classroom technique
that assists trauma-affected students to regulate their nervous system through rhythmic
movement” (Waters & Brunzell). So, the student could drum out the place value number they
created on their rainbow mat as an alternative to saying or writing the number.
Another strategy to help guide the instruction of a trauma student would be to create a
positive physical space for all the students. This would help to build positive emotions from the
trauma impacted students and help keep them calm. “Putting up positive visuals and quotes can
inspire creative thinking and teamwork in your students. Increased natural light or soft lighting
can enhance an open, warm, and relaxing environment (Water & Brunzell). As well as creating
safe places for brain breaks that also create mindfulness in the classroom.
With so many diverse students in a classroom finding multiple strategies to teach is
necessary. This allows the learning experience to be inclusive for all students in the classroom.
When there are multiple ways to learn a lesson then all the students in the class benefit from it.
Creating multiple stations in a math lesson that use all the learning styles can be beneficial. Also
incorporating all the styles in one lesson guarantees that no student is left behind. Creating a safe
space where all learners can come together is our job as educators.
Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners Essay 7
References
Azzam, A. (2016). Six strategies for challenging gifted learners. ASCD: Professional Learning &
Community for Educators.
https://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/educationupdate/apr16/vol58/num04/Six-
Strategies-for-Challenging-Gifted-Learners.aspx
Cox, J. (2016, September 6). 10 teaching strategies to keep struggling students working.
TeachHUB. https://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies/2016/09/10-teachingstrategies-
to-keep-struggling-students-working/
Education, V. (n.d.). Mathematics. Retrieved April 18, 2021, from
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/mathematics/index.shtml
Kaplan, E. (2019, April 12). 6 essential strategies for teaching English language learners.
Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-essential-strategies-teaching-
englishlanguage-learners
Orlich, D. C., Harder, R. J., Brown, A., Trevisan, M. S., & Miller, D. (2018). Teaching
strategies: A guide to effective instruction. Australia: Cengage Learning.
Waters, L., & Brunzell, T. (n.d.). Five ways to support STUDENTS affected by trauma.
Retrieved April 18, 2021, from
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_ways_to_support_students_affected_by_
trauma
What is Giftedness? (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2021, from https://www.nagc.org/resources-
publications/resources/what-giftedness
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