Cassie Mayer

EDUG 512
November 5, 2015
PRQ 7
How can I direct and facilitate a variety of learning experiences for all students?
(Remember to use five or more references from the readings, TPEs, and
from our class discussions. Include at least one or two theories or
theorists

Not all students learn or process information the same way, yet as a
teacher, I will need to be able to reach each of my students to transfer the
knowledge they need. Howard Gardner theorizes that there are at least
seven forms of analysis: linguistic intellectual, logical-mathematical, musical
intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal
intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence. I can direct and facilitate a
variety of learning experiences for all students by learning about my
students, utilize instructional planning and time, and through a positive
social environment.
There are many ways in which to learn about my students that will
benefit my direction and facilitation of their learning experience. Giving my
students a survey about their likes, dislikes, and their culture in the
beginning of the school year will help me create lessons that are relatable
and applicable for my students. Learning about my students is vital to their
learning experience because it will help me differentiate instruction.
According to Carol Ann Tomlinson, teachers in differentiated classrooms
accept, embrace, and plan for the fact that learners bring many
commonalities to school, but that they also bring the essential differences

that make them individual (Tomlinson, 2002). I will also learn about my
students through interpersonal interactions. This connects to TPE 8.3,
Through interpersonal interactions, they learn about students' abilities,
ideas, interests and aspirations. This will help me learn my students
individual personalities and temperaments helping me accommodate my
students individual needs.
Learning about my students is very important and will benefit my
instructional planning and time. One instructional strategy that could benefit
all learners is cooperative learning. In cooperative learning each student has
a specific job in order to complete and assignment. Each student brings
something special to the table. According to Burden and Byrd, Cooperative
learning involves students working together in small, mixed-ability learning
teams to address specific instructional tasks (Burden & Byrd, p. 159). By
understand my students individual strengths and weaknesses I can use
cooperative groups to improve instructional time, and through monitoring I
can intervene with students as needed. Cooperative learning also benefits
instructional planning as capable peers help one another work through their
zones of proximal development. Vygotsky theorizes that a childs zone of
proximal development is the plain a students needs to work through in order
to master a concept. With the aid of teachers and peers that student can
attain their goals.
As students reach their goals in my classroom it will also improve their
learning environment. Creating a positive learning environment is important

in order to make my students feel comfortable and instill a passion for

learning. According to TPE 11.2 Candidates establish a physically, socially
and emotionally safe classroom environment for students by developing and
maintaining clear expectations for academic and social behavior. One thing
my third grade master teacher does to create an emotionally and socially
safe environment for her students is to refer to student mistakes as gifts.
Rather than humiliate a student for getting a wrong answer she calls it a gift
because the class then has an opportunity to learn through the mistake. I
want my classroom a place where my students feel safe to make mistakes,
grow, and learn, therefore creating the best learning environment I can give
them.
Every person is unique in their own way, and not one person learns
exactly the same way as another. It is the job of a teacher to meet the
individual needs of each learners. I can direct and facilitate learning
experiences in order to meet the needs of my students through getting know
my learners, through instructional time, and through creating a positive
learning environment.

References
Burden, P. R., & Byrd, D. M. (2013). Methods For Effective Teaching: Meeting the
Needs of All Students. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.
California teaching performance expectations. (2013). Retrieved from Commission
on Teacher Credentialing: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/TPA-files/TPEsFull-Version.pdf
Gardner, H. (2012). Creating the Future. Intellignce in Seven Steps.

Tomlinson, C. A. (2002). Different Learners Different Lessons. The Differentiated

Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners.
Vytgotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society. Interaction Between Learning and
Development, 79-91.