Learner Development

Students with disabilities have unique patterns and rates of learner development. The patterns in which learners grow and develop vary within the realms of cognitive, social, emotional and physical ability. All students possess unique learning styles. Students with disabilities often require accommodations/modifications in order to support individual needs. Accommodations/modifications made for a student should revolve around developmentally appropriate learning activities that are associated with the curriculum. Quality educators are those who develop and adjust instructional strategies in order to meet the needs and skill levels of all students.  

Having the opportunity to develop lesson plans that cater to specific learning needs has enabled me to gain a better understanding of developmentally appropriate learning activities. Learning about and developing different learning activities for specific learning disabilities provided me with a unique challenge of addressing specific student need. When developing learning activities, it is important to understand that students learn at different rates, and possess different learning styles. Altering instruction based upon student need as well as incorporating different aspects of technology into lessons is important when devising lessons for students with varying needs. Creating different artifacts throughout the courses I took through Granite State College School of Education assisted me in developing confidence within personal teaching strategies. Developing my own Bloom’s Taxonomy template allowed me to develop lessons with an appropriate progression of academic skill. Creating various handbooks such as my literacy handbook and instructional strategy handbook has provided me with many useful strategies and techniques to use within my lessons in order to cater learning activities to individual student need. Teaching lessons and units throughout my tenure with the Granite State College School of Education has provided me with insight that altering instruction during the lesson is appropriate if students are not grasping information. . Progress monitoring students is a key strategy in ensuring instructional strategies are working and students make academic progress.

Learning Differences 

Throughout my coursework at Granite State College, I have been introduced to a variety of different instructional strategies with regards to teaching students with varying needs. Educators are faced with the challenge of teaching a group of students with varying abilities on a daily basis.  In many instances, educators must adapt lessons catering to student learning styles in order for all students to learn grade-level and age appropriate materials.  It is the educator’s responsibility to adapt and differentiate lessons to meet the needs of all learners. Differentiation is critical in allowing all students to learn grade-level and age appropriate materials within the school environment. The educator must have an awareness of student ability, especially when working with students with a disability. Educators should study a student’s IEP before conducting a lesson. Obtaining as much information about a student as possible allows educators to make appropriate accommodations and modifications with lesson plans. When in the classroom, the teacher must be aware of student ability, especially students with a disability.

Every student has a distinct learning style, especially those with disabilities.  Today’s classrooms consist of students with varying needs. Student with disabilities typically require accommodations and modifications to their curriculum in order to pace with their peers. Being aware of a student’s IEP is essential when teaching a student with a disability. Implementing proper accommodations and assistive devices within a student’s educational program allows the student to witness success with developmentally appropriate learning experiences. I believe it is important to note that accommodations are put in place to promote student success, not to lower expectations of student performance.  Identifying case study students in several of the courses I have taken has allowed me to focus on individual learning needs and differences. Identifying my case study’s learning goals as well as accommodations allowed me to better focus my lessons to meet his/her needs. Once I gained a perceptive of my case study’s learning ability I was able to apply my knowledge of instructional strategies to gear lessons for greater student success. Developing my Literacy handbook and instructional strategy handbook allowed be to research the developmental stages and process of a quality learner. Creating these handbooks provided me with several resources that I have supplemented within my lessons. Many of these web-based resources provided engaging learning opportunities for my students. Creating lesson plans and units throughout my coursework required me to focus on the individual needs of my students, allowing me further practice with differentiating lessons. Once I gained a perceptive of my case study’s learning ability I was able to apply my knowledge of instructional strategies to gear lessons for greater student success. Identifying my case study students allowed me to focus on individual learning needs and differences. Being aware of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is essential when teaching a student with a disability. 

Learning Environments 

            Students of all abilities greatly benefit from an environment that promotes social interaction, and active engagement within the general curriculum. Developing a learning environment that encourages individual learning and collaborative learning is critical in promoting social and academic success. Brain based learning strategies such as utilizing music, movement, and technology are critical components in ensuring an active and engaging learning environment. Promoting student collaboration is another strategy conducive to an effective learning environment. Many students with a disability benefit from partnering with a typical peer to complete academic tasks. Pairing students of different abilities allows for peer modeling and teaching. Peer teaching also allows for a higher rate of social-interaction within the classroom. Creating a safe collaborative learning environment promotes many social and academic benefits for students with and without disabilities. Utilizing web-based resources and learning strategies from handbooks I have created through my Granite State College coursework as well as other instructional strategies within the curriculum are effective ways to promote a successful learning environment.

Many students, especially those in the primary grades learn best through direct instruction, modeling, and hands-on learning activities. Instructional learning strategies that involve the utilization of music, movement, and technology are critical components in ensuring an active and engaging learning environment. Promoting student collaboration is another strategy conducive to an effective learning environment. Many students benefit from explicit modeling when acquiring a new skill. It is important to include direct instruction within lessons, especially lessons geared towards students with learning disabilities, in order to promote a better understanding of taught material. Creating a safe collaborative learning environment promotes many social and academic benefits for students with and without disabilities. Creating the literacy handbook and instructional strategy handbook provided me with many instructional strategies that involve the utilization of movement and technology. These instructional strategies are key components in constructing an active and engaging learning environment. It is important to include time for peer modeling within lessons. This peer modeling time allows students to collaborate with one another. When planning a lesson, I try to include peer modeling.