Understanding Diverse Learners was a course that caused me to take pause and think about the many different needs that students in my classroom might have. As the final project for this course, we were asked to design a lesson that would convey to our potential students an important concept about students with disabilities. As I looked back and considered the many different things that we had learned, I discovered that what struck me the most was that support was essential in ensuring the success of students with disabilities. Without the necessary supports, students would suffer, while at the same, students would be able to thrive with the necessary supports in place. I also recognized that the same was true for students of all ages and types. Everyone needs certain supports in order to succeed, and as an educator, it is my job to ensure that these supports are in place. In addition, it is important for my students to recognize that they can support their peers, and that this is something that all students have in common.
I am proud of this final project as I think it address two main points inherent in Azrieli's educational goals. Firstly, it is a lesson designed to highlight that education can be made available to students of all types, regardless of gender, race or disability. As this is a message I received at Azrieli, it is something that I would like to pass along to my own students. In addition, this lesson integrates technology through the use of a Ted-Talk and through student-made videos. The usage of technology in this context is helpful is assessing students' grasp of the topic, as well as ensuring that they are engaged and well-behaved throughout the lesson.
I am proud of this final project as I think it address two main points inherent in Azrieli's educational goals. Firstly, it is a lesson designed to highlight that education can be made available to students of all types, regardless of gender, race or disability. As this is a message I received at Azrieli, it is something that I would like to pass along to my own students. In addition, this lesson integrates technology through the use of a Ted-Talk and through student-made videos. The usage of technology in this context is helpful is assessing students' grasp of the topic, as well as ensuring that they are engaged and well-behaved throughout the lesson.
The activities presented here as "tiering activities" were created in the course Differentiated Instruction. These activities were created as my own "anchor activity" during class-time, and were created with my current job, as a fifth grade assistant teacher, in mind. Each week, Dr. Goldberg provided us with time to choose what we would like to work on as a stimulating and thought-provoking experience. The idea of creating tiering activities to meet the needs of different learners was something I wanted to challenge myself to do, as I felt that such a creation would be a useful tool in meeting the needs of my current and future students. Thinking about the different ways that one would might alter a specific topic was exciting, and I enjoyed creating these activities for groups of students.
Modifying assignments to meet the needs of students was difficult for me, as I attempted to determine what specific assignment would be easier or harder to complete. However, by challenging myself to create these activities, I learned the important commitment that one must make to ensuring that students' needs are met and that activities are differentiated. In addition, it caused me to think about the different way one might differentiate. One should not only focus on differentiating the amount of work, but rather should attempt to differentiate the content, skills or activities that different students might have to complete.
Modifying assignments to meet the needs of students was difficult for me, as I attempted to determine what specific assignment would be easier or harder to complete. However, by challenging myself to create these activities, I learned the important commitment that one must make to ensuring that students' needs are met and that activities are differentiated. In addition, it caused me to think about the different way one might differentiate. One should not only focus on differentiating the amount of work, but rather should attempt to differentiate the content, skills or activities that different students might have to complete.
The active learning strategies presented in this document were created for the Teaching Navi course that I took with Dr. Ilana Turetsky. The document contains three short activities each geared toward a specific grade and sefer. These paragraphs describe how I would integrate the active learning strategies that I learned in the Teaching Navi course into my classroom. The activities created in this context are meant to engage students in the learning process, as well as to ensure that their attention remains consistent throughout the course of the lesson.
I think these activities demonstrate my integration of two of Azrieli's learning goals. At first glance, these strategies seem to highlight how one would utilize material learned in an Azrieli course to commit to utilizing "pedagogy that promotes active engagement in a student-centered learning environment." In each of these activities, the primary goal is to ensure that students participate in their learning and feel actively engaged in the process of uncovering knowledge. In addition, these activities highlight age-appropriate techniques and strategies that could be helpful in ensuring that the classroom environment runs smoothly. The activities presented not only help to create environment where the student remains focused, but also helps the teacher in properly managing the classroom and the different personalities contained within it.
I think these activities demonstrate my integration of two of Azrieli's learning goals. At first glance, these strategies seem to highlight how one would utilize material learned in an Azrieli course to commit to utilizing "pedagogy that promotes active engagement in a student-centered learning environment." In each of these activities, the primary goal is to ensure that students participate in their learning and feel actively engaged in the process of uncovering knowledge. In addition, these activities highlight age-appropriate techniques and strategies that could be helpful in ensuring that the classroom environment runs smoothly. The activities presented not only help to create environment where the student remains focused, but also helps the teacher in properly managing the classroom and the different personalities contained within it.