Diversity, Learning Style and Culture

Diversity Article Reflection

            Overall, I’d say this article effectively captures what the teacher’s mindset should be.  There are, however, a few things I would disagree with.  For example, the article discusses the difficult decision teacher’s make about what the need to keep the same and what they should change.  I have the teaching philosophy that everything should be flexible, in order to meet the students’ needs.  I can’t think of a single thing that can’t be changed in order to make instruction easier to understand. 

            On the discussion topic of special education, I can’t help but think about what one of my high school teachers told me on the subject (I interviewed him for SED 361).  He has his Masters in Special Education and follows the mentality that the “tried-and-true” methods work the best.  He meant that the new special education methods that are created essentially every year are not as accessible for most teachers as the strategies that have been around for a longer time.  I follow this line of thinking, since I tend to feel that there is no right or wrong answer, but it is usually better to go with my gut.

            The other section of this article that truly caused me to think had to do with the processing of information.  Every student processes information differently, so in my classroom, I will vary the way in which I give student notes.  I can definitely make handouts, lecture, or have students working in groups.  I’ve already decided that I wouldn’t use a pneumonics in my classroom since those can be frustrating if students know the letter but not the word.