Individual Differences Learning Log

What?
In studying Chapter 5 in class this week, we learned about individual differences in education, including special needs and multiple intelligences. We discussed IDEA and the benefits that this act provides to students that need additional assistance. It addresses each student on an individual basis with an IEP and the classroom teacher uses the student's accommodations to help encourage their success in the class. We also talked about the different kind of intelligences that there are and how we can use many different types of strategies to help reach our students that learn in different ways. In Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, there are 8 different types: linguistic, logic/math, spatial/visual, music, bodily/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. By using differentiation to incorporate the different types of intelligences, we can better assist our students through the learning process. Another interesting theory about intelligences was developed by Sternberg. He believes that Environmental Context, Prior Experience, and Cognitive Processes all influence how we learn. It wouldn't matter if we were a linguistic learner or a spatial learner, we would still need all three of these components in our learning process.

So What?
In a classroom with 30+ students, there are bound to me many different types of learners. We must understand each type of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences so we can differentiate our curriculum to better fit the needs of our students. The more differentiation we use, the more our students will take away from the lesson. Also, it is important to remember that inclusion is going to be taking place in our classrooms, so we need to be familiar with the IDEA and our individual students' IEPs in order to be a more effective teacher. We can help all of our students succeed if we are willing to put forth the effort that it will take.

Now What?
In class we answered the question,"How do you feel about the movement toward inclusion in today's public schools?" I find myself hesitant and concerned, mainly because I don't feel like I know enough to be able to help those students. With further education on different types of disabilities and how to work with students that have the disabilities, I think that I would be much more comfortable with the idea of inclusion. I think that it is very important for us to teach our students how to be more compassionate and caring towards others that have disabilities, and inclusion is a good way to start the process.