Ch. 2- Student Needs as the Impetus for Differentiation

This chapter starts out by saying that not all students are ready and anxious for school and to have a teacher in charge of their activities. Some are reluctant to give themselves to the demands of school. I think this is important to understand that not all students walk into the classroom with the same attitude and expectations for the school year. Some look at school as fun and a place to socialize and learn new things while others look at it like their freedom is taken away and the day is so structured. It said in the chapter that emotions trump learning. It is important to consider that students cant learn if they feel unsafe, threatened, or insecure. As a teacher, it is obviously very important to look at each student and make sure they feel a sense of belonging. They have to be able to trust you first and foremost. If they dont trust you, learning will not take place. You have to be able to connect with your students. They want to feel connected to you as a teacher and they are looking to you to help them find a sense of identity and answer questions dealing with their feelings and emotions. Learning about math and history are not their priorities. All students want to feel accepted and that their opinion really matters. They want to be listened to and heard. The different things that students usually seek is affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge. All of these are equally important and essential is you want your student's to succeed and learn to their fullest extent. " "Teaching asks us to do the impossible. It asks us to establish ties with each child-not to establish ties with all the children as though they were one student." This quote sums it all up so well to me. You can't look at your class as just a big whole. There are 30 parts that make up that whole. Each part matters and is just as important as the others. The chapter refers back to connecting and the importance of that. "Teaching is fundamentally about building lives." I can't wait and am anxious to help change lives. Hopefully I can be the teacher I dream about becoming and really make an impact on my students that they will remember forever and that will make them a better person and want to become a life-long learner.