Instruction in the classroom

This week we learned about different ways of instruction you can use in the classroom to help students achieve success to the best of your ability as a teacher. There are a variety of different types of instruction that can be used. In most classes you see the regular things like large or whole class instruction where the entire class participates in a lecture or activity together. Then there is also small group instruction which is where children are placed in groups, sometimes depending on skill or ability level, and given an activity or assignment. Then there is a one-on-one instruction. I feel like this doesn't happen very often in a lot of classes because it is hard for the teachers to find the time to give that special attention to just one child, but when this is used it can be very beneficial to students.
The most important concept I learned this week is when getting ready to teach your class and figure out the type of instruction to use it is best to look at a variety of different things. You want to make sure the type of instruction used is going to best suit the needs of the students.
Here are a few tips that we read about:

• Check out the text book. Make sure it is high quality writing if you are going to use it. 
• Use manipulative and models in your classroom to give the children a hands on experience. This may be especially useful for children who need to be more active learners. 
• Use a variety of teaching materials for lessons
• Use technology in a way that will help the children when it is appropriate.

We also learned about a very important part of planning instruction for children who are needing help having accommodations in the classroom. This process has a few steps to take into consideration.

1. Identify Classroom Demands.
2. Note Student Learning Strengths and Needs
3. Check for potential areas of student success 
4. Look for potential problem areas
5. Use information to brainstorm ways to differentiate instruction
6. Differentiate Instruction
7. Evaluate student progress

This is a basic outline of the plan that can make a big difference in a students life. We got to practice using this outline in our case study this week. One thing that really stuck out to me as we were planning some instructional accommodations for this student was that sometimes teachers need to be more willing to switch things up in the way that they teach. One of this boys teachers wasn't willing to change class instruction just for him and that made it really difficult. I think that being a teacher we should more than willing to go above and beyond to help a student succeed in our class.