| Random Educational Thought |
Differentiated Instruction
Hello, I hope this email finds you in good holiday cheer. Christmas is, and
always will be, a time of giving and sharing. I would really like to see the
Chicago Board of Education do some giving. Specifically to a school where
there are two kindergarten rooms with 36 students each. Yes 36!!!
EDUCATION: The "Buzz Word" in educational circles is "Differentiated
Instruction." This is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers
should adapt instruction to student differences, thus tailoring their instruction
to individual student needs. But tell me something. How can one apply this
strategy when there are 36 five year olds (four who have never attended
school, another five who cannot identify the alphabet, and five more, on the
other end of the spectrum, who are readers/accelerated learners).
Yes a large part of educated preschoolers starts at home, but many of our
parents are babies themselves (15-18 years of age). It is this man's opinion
that EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE
PUTTING OUR MONEY. At five years old, the learning gap between the
accelerated student and the slow learner is not that great. With extra help a
young child can catch up. But what does the Chicago Public School (CPS)
system do? They offer after school programs for students in grades 3-8. By
third grade that learning gap has grown exponentially. Now that same little
boy who came to kindergarten not being able to identify is alphabet is now a
non-reader. CPS will label him a slow-learner and place him in special
education. There is nothing wrong with this child. We just failed to provide
him with the educational support that he needed WHEN he needed it. These
are the same students who at sixteen and seventeen years old are commiting our
violent crimes. Why not catch 'em early and educate them. I don't know the
stats, but I'd be willing to bet that at least 70% of prison inmates do not have
a high school diploma.
Hello, I hope this email finds you in good holiday cheer. Christmas is, and
always will be, a time of giving and sharing. I would really like to see the
Chicago Board of Education do some giving. Specifically to a school where
there are two kindergarten rooms with 36 students each. Yes 36!!!
EDUCATION: The "Buzz Word" in educational circles is "Differentiated
Instruction." This is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers
should adapt instruction to student differences, thus tailoring their instruction
to individual student needs. But tell me something. How can one apply this
strategy when there are 36 five year olds (four who have never attended
school, another five who cannot identify the alphabet, and five more, on the
other end of the spectrum, who are readers/accelerated learners).
Yes a large part of educated preschoolers starts at home, but many of our
parents are babies themselves (15-18 years of age). It is this man's opinion
that EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE
PUTTING OUR MONEY. At five years old, the learning gap between the
accelerated student and the slow learner is not that great. With extra help a
young child can catch up. But what does the Chicago Public School (CPS)
system do? They offer after school programs for students in grades 3-8. By
third grade that learning gap has grown exponentially. Now that same little
boy who came to kindergarten not being able to identify is alphabet is now a
non-reader. CPS will label him a slow-learner and place him in special
education. There is nothing wrong with this child. We just failed to provide
him with the educational support that he needed WHEN he needed it. These
are the same students who at sixteen and seventeen years old are commiting our
violent crimes. Why not catch 'em early and educate them. I don't know the
stats, but I'd be willing to bet that at least 70% of prison inmates do not have
a high school diploma.