Diverse Learners By Maria Novoa Many people assume that everyone learns, listens, and understands everything the same way. There are many diverse learners in the world today. Many can be: English Language
Learners,English as a Second Language, and children with disabilities. Many of these students have a hard time in school because they do not speak English or have a disability like: ADHD, autism, mentally disabled, and a special impairment. Another group of diverse learners may include those students who have a problem with substance abuse, sleep deprivation, and poverty.
Many of these examples cause students to not be able to learn and it interferes with their process of learning. Their physical, social, and personal challenges depend on their successful learning.
Every teacher has to follow the Colorado Department of Education Standard Six with all their students, which I plan to follow if I decide to become a teacher. My perspective on diverse learners has changed pretty drastically.
I did experience being a diverse learner as a kid until I was 7. I was in an English
Language Learners class growing up and started school when I was two and a half because I had a problem with my feet. I was a child with disability at that time. I went from not caring to listening and starting to put people’s needs first. I am not selfish anymore and see that I need to use and be glad of everything I have right now that I won’t or might not have in the future. I also learned to respect people a lot more now, if I want to be respected the same way. I learned that all kids are different and that difference is what makes them special. Personal barriers, family barriers, societal barriers, ELL students and special education play a big role on how someone will learn and strive for a better future.
In the future if I decide I want to become a teacher, I will need to follow the CDE
Standard 6 with all of my students. The CDE Standard 6 is as follows:
The teacher is responsive to the needs and experiences children bring to the classroom, including those based on culture, community, ethnicity, linguistics, and innate learning abilities. The teacher is knowledgeable about learning exceptionalities and conditions that affect the rate and extent of student learning, and is able to adapt instruction for all learners.
It is important for teachers to fulfill the standard because every child’s education is important. If a child feels insecure of being in a classroom, than the teacher is probably not doing a good job making students feel welcomed. I will need to make sure that I am meeting the basic needs ( examples: stable living conditions, Love and affection and good nutrition) of my students, and that they feel comfortable. I believe this standard means to pay attention to students and take note of any who are having a hard time completing tasks and getting their work done. The CDE
Standard 6 is important because every child learns one way and down the road their education and their learning habits are reflected upon test taking and how they learned the concept.
First, my perception changed a lot more when I was in fourth grade. I became a more advanced student in math and was still pretty bad in English. I went from being in the lowest classes, being in a small class, to being in a class filled with a lot of smart people. I thought I was not supposed to be there at that time but later on I understood. I no longer needed the help, and
Mrs. Schaefer was going to be the new teacher who helped me fit into the class. I thought all kids were in a class with people who were just like them: Whites, Somalian, Mexican, and
Salvadorian people, but no. Each class was made up of people who were different to start getting
them used to each other. My perception changed from not caring to learning to listen and pay attention to other peoples needs. Secondly, my perception has changed by how to interpret
