Instructional Strategies

The Learning Center strategy is one that can often be utilized in the history classroom. In a lesson on the different aspects of ancient culture (which is something I have taught), utilizing a learning center approach would allow for the students to work at their own pace, learning about every aspect going through each of the centers.

It would allow for a more active classroom and active learning environment.

Differentiated Instruction

When I was teaching history on my internship, I was able to have students learn through different ways. Through the unit, and then through the exam, the students were able to learn through a variety of methods. They were able to visually represent what they were learning (which is how the unit was started), and then we were able to use discussion based, writing based, note based, methods of instruction in order to address the needs of this class which had varied learners in the class. The variables, were that we were needing to look at different aspects of "Multiple Intelligences" as students learn in different ways. This history class involved a very broad group of students, who learned in different ways, and were able to demonstrate their skills in different ways. The curriculum involved learning of lots of different concepts, so it was important to the curriculum to utilize different techniques. Lots of the students were not interested in studying, so it needed to be unique approaches to get them engaged.

Theme 2

I am concerned about my co-teaching, which begins this week. I have observed co-teaching classrooms before, where the method of co-teaching was not effective to the students, and it wasn't helpful.

I am concerned, about allowing for myself and the other teacher to have adequate time teaching in order to use our areas of speciality. I am concerned about engaging the students in a meaningful way through the coteaching.

As the co-teaching starts next week, I will have a better sense of ways to adjust the co-teaching technique to better meet the needs of all involved.

What do you feel you need to learn more about to make yourself a confident special education practitioner?

I feel like it would be important for me to have a more solid understanding of the division of duties, between ed psych assessment, the special education teacher and the classroom teacher. Although I think there are some variance there may be some common factors.

As well, a toolkit of adaptations which have worked for students in the past would help in starting to feel confident as a practitioner.

What has been the most important aspect of your experience with the post-degree certificate so far?

The most important part of my experience in this certificate has been the collaboration with other students in the classes. I have learned so much from group discussions and the insights of fellow students which can be implemented. It has supported and helped with understanding of the content as well as the variety of experiences teachers have.