We all learn best when we can customize our space to meet our needs. The challenge is doing this in a shared space, where 25 other co-learners have different needs than you do. Students must learn to meet their needs in a way that is respectful to the whole classroom community.
A flexible learning environment enables all students to select the tools that make them feel comfortable and focused. While some students may choose to work to music or in partnerships, others may choose to use noise-cancelling headphones as they focus on their work. When students need a change in space as they read, write, solve problems, or confer in groups, they can choose a chair and desk, a stool, a cushion, or a spot on the carpet. Fidgety students can concentrate their energy on tactile toys as they work. If a time pressure is motivating, or if thinking about working on a project for an indefinite amount of time is stressful, students can use a timer to stay focused. Accommodations like these are research-proven to support all children, and especially students with special needs like ADHD.
In a diverse classroom with wide-ranging abilities and needs, it is necessary to provide all kids with the right level of challenge in a differentiated classroom. Tools like a leveled library, organized in bins, support this goal. So do tools for math games that can be played at increasing levels of difficulty.
Every object in this project will be used and reused constantly, making every student feel like the classroom is really their own space to learn, create, challenge themselves, connect with others, and shape to their needs and interests.
About my class
We all learn best when we can customize our space to meet our needs. The challenge is doing this in a shared space, where 25 other co-learners have different needs than you do. Students must learn to meet their needs in a way that is respectful to the whole classroom community.
A flexible learning environment enables all students to select the tools that make them feel comfortable and focused. While some students may choose to work to music or in partnerships, others may choose to use noise-cancelling headphones as they focus on their work. When students need a change in space as they read, write, solve problems, or confer in groups, they can choose a chair and desk, a stool, a cushion, or a spot on the carpet. Fidgety students can concentrate their energy on tactile toys as they work. If a time pressure is motivating, or if thinking about working on a project for an indefinite amount of time is stressful, students can use a timer to stay focused. Accommodations like these are research-proven to support all children, and especially students with special needs like ADHD.
In a diverse classroom with wide-ranging abilities and needs, it is necessary to provide all kids with the right level of challenge in a differentiated classroom. Tools like a leveled library, organized in bins, support this goal. So do tools for math games that can be played at increasing levels of difficulty.
Every object in this project will be used and reused constantly, making every student feel like the classroom is really their own space to learn, create, challenge themselves, connect with others, and shape to their needs and interests.
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