it seemed to me that the lesson we were suppose to take away from our reading this week had to do with recognizing each child as an individual. not every child can be expected to learn the same way, or to respond to our teaching in the same way. i deeply believe and agree that we need to connect with each child. not connect with the class as a whole, but to each child. we can't walk into the classroom with one set way of teaching and expect every child to grasp the idea we are teaching. sometimes you need to approach things in many different ways.
at the same time i really liked the story of the prince and the fox. i've never read the actual story, as i've heard from some people in class, that it is an actual story. but i agree. as a student i know that i never trusted in my teachers or wanted to try new things, unless i knew that they trusted and believed in me, as a student.
sometimes all kids need is a little encouragement. it may be taxing, and our efforts may get rejected sometimes. but i strongly believe that if we try that little bit harder to get to know our students, and to let them know that were trying to get to know them, and show that we care- it will pay off in the end. it may not for us as teachers, but we might make that one difference in that students life, and be the only person that has ever cared about them.
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You are in tune with how students feel, and how great the need is to know them as individuals. The prince and fox taming each other is a powerful metaphor. What CAN a teacher do? HOW can a teacher approach the classroom, and yet still meet individual needs? Can you elaborate a little more on the the things Tomlinson suggests will make it all work? Were there quotes or main points that you connected with concerning differentiation? 3 points
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