1. What challenges do you anticipate in meeting the needs of individual learners?
This is an incredibly hard question to answer because of the varying depths of each individual’s understanding. Of course, when you have a class full of children with differing needs and degrees of understanding, it becomes exponentially more difficult to effectively reach each and every child where they’re at and take them, on their own path, as far as they can go. More specifically, lacking technical knowledge in a subject is the biggest challenge I anticipate for specific needs. Anytime a teacher has specific content knowledge (especially vastly more than what they’re trying to teach) they are better equipped to meet the specific learning needs. Conversely, if they are lacking, they can still be effective, but are less likely to be able to deliver the content in such a way that lends itself to the aspects of the subject.
2. What is your plan for meeting individual student needs?
My plan is to get and stay up-to-date on content so that I have that easily accessible to meet students where they’re at in that regard. On the other hand, developing a relationship with each and every student, as much as possible, will allow me to learn about their baseline patterns, learning style, and communication style. By gathering this knowledge, I will be better able and suited to meet the students learning needs in ways that they are most receptive to them. Having the specific knowledge of the content I’m teaching as well as the knowledge of how a specific student learns and communicates should be able to help me best bridge the gap and meet the need of each individual student.
3. What resources can you utilize to help meet the needs of diverse learners?
I think the single best resource to utilize to help meet the needs of diverse learners is their family. Connecting with and developing a relationship with a student’s family, regardless of background, can give invaluable insight into their complete sphere of influence. Understanding this only serves to provide a more whole, illustrative picture of the student. Further, having ongoing communication with parents about the student can serve to keep you up to date on the student’s recent life events and facilitate the parent’s being included in their child’s education.
MASTER HOGAN 