Who are the learners in my classroom?  Susan ChenAIL 620 – Learner Literacy

The four-learner profile?Just the tip of the

iceberg!Special Needs

ELLGATEStruggling

Take a step back, and you’ll see…

Special NeedsSpecial Needs due to Impairment (physical, emotional, ADHD)Special Needs due to Learning DisabilitySpecial Needs ELLSpecial Needs GATESpecial Needs Struggling

ELLELL GATEELL StrugglingELL Conversationally Proficient in L1, but not reading/writingELL Reading/Writing Proficient in L1, but not conversationally

GATEGATE in all areasGATE in a few areasGATE in one area

StrugglingStruggling in all areasStruggling in a few areasStruggling in one area

My students…Special Needs due to Impairment: Tyler (ADHD), Erik (wheelchair)Special Needs due to Learning Disability: David O. (cognitively impaired)Special Needs ELL: Armando (speaks only Spanish at home)Special Needs GATE: Julian (very intelligent, impulsivity issues)Special Needs Struggling: Brandy (auditory and visual processing, speech)ELL: Julian, Armando, Sophia, Steven, Dalia, David O., KarenELL GATE: JulianELL Struggling: Armando, David O.ELL Conversationally Proficient in L1, but not reading/writing: Karen, Dalia, ArmandoELL Reading/Writing Proficient in L1, but not conversationally: NoneGATE in all areas: Julian, Corey, LauraGATE in a few areas: Alexis, GATE in one area: David F. Struggling in all areas: Armando, Brandy, David O.Struggling in a few areas: Abby, Ilene, Isabela, Madison, Sophia, XochitlStruggling in one area: Aliza, David F., Janae, Tyler

Differentiation in instruction

Special NeedsADHD More time to complete tasks,

breaksWheelchair Obstacles removed

from movement around the room, alternate movements for arms when legs are being exercised or used.

ELL Instruction in L1 with translation to L2 Instruction in L2 with pictures or hand

movements

Differentiation in instruction

GATEHigher level DOK questions, workExposure to more difficult texts

StrugglingLower level DOK questions, workExposure to less difficult texts

Talents

Special Needs Often hidden, usually non-academic

ELL Can be academic or non-academic.

GATE Usually obvious, both academic and non-academic

Struggling Often hidden, usually non-academic

Growing to their potential

Special Needs In elementary school, we have student IEPs (Individual Education Plans) that set goals to be worked toward. Every three months, the IEP team meets to assess whether or not the student is making progress.

ELL ELD Portfolios are designed to be a check-off list for teachers to follow their students’ language progress from Beginner to Emerging to Proficient.

Growing to their potential

GATE In our district, giftedness is not assessed until mid-2nd grade. Kindergarteners that show early potential as assessed by the Advanced Learners department are put into Advanced Kindergarten, while 1st and 2nd grade students are placed in the Vanguard classes. 3rd grade is when GATE officially starts.

Growing to their potential

Struggling Most teachers put their struggling students in smaller groups to have more individual time to reteach key concepts. They can also be pulled out of the classroom for RSP or to work with a 6th grade student from the school next door.

Important components to consider when building learning activities (specific curricular

differentiations, accommodations, and modifications)

Special Needs Do I need to add manipulatives? More time?

ELL Does this lesson come with vocabulary words that will need to be explained?

GATE Are there activities that be added for enrichment?

Struggling Will I be able to reteach this lesson at a slower, more accessible pace?

Differentiated instructional materials

Special Needs additional pencil grips, manipulatives for testing instead of paper

ELL visual representation of lessons

GATE technology to showcase project-based learning

Struggling kinesthetic manipulatives, more audio and visual technology

Impact

While completing this lesson, I have really looked inside myself and asked, “Am I doing all I can for all these learners?” Sadly, the answer is no. The farther I get in on my master’s degree, and the more reflecting I do, the more I realize I have so much more to learn!