Diversity

Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
1. Select a lesson plan that you have developed or one that is available from a print or online resource. Describe alternative activities and assessments in the lesson plans that would allow you to meet the needs of students with differing abilities. Consider students with the following needs: a. high-poverty students who do not have the same background experiences b. students who prefer to learn by doing or through experiential learning c. students who have difficultives focusing on and deriving meaning from print d. students with high ability and interest in the subject who require enrichment

2. What type of additional information do you need to meet the needs of these students? What experiences can you draw upon to identify these students? What resources are available to help you meet these challenges?

The majority of student needs can be met with small changes to the lesson plans. For high-poverty students, providing access to computers through their local library is option for those who do not have computers at home. For those who prefer to learn by doing and other various learning styles, this particular project offers a multitude of ways to deliver a final project. The use of Power Point allows for the students to manipulate objects to develop different ideas. Second language learners and those with disabilities can find content is at different levels and in different languages. The research performed on the Web is rich in content that can apply to many of Gardner's multiple intelligences. For gifted students, explorations into topics on a deeper scale can be created to offer them a richer learning experience.