One on one differentiation
Updated: Jul 11, 2021
I began to notice a pattern with students not doing well. They had missed basic study skills such as knowing how to reflect on their learning, ask questions, take notes or organise their time.
Your lazy!
These would be the students whose reports had words like - he/she doesn't pay enough attention, he'/she isn't asking questions, he/she needs to be more motivated and or more organised. Yet these kids were kids that want to learn but as the system stacked against them, the got more confused, more overwhelmed, put more time into their studies and got nothing for it - no note-able improvements. Blaming the student is a good way of not taking responsibility for what might bad or boring teaching, or an intimidating personality.
My epiphany moment
I was scheduled to help a very weak student. He enjoyed English. In fact it was the only subject he did enjoy. Anyway on this particular day, he said he was exhausted because he had stayed up all night studying for his Civics test. So I asked him to explain his routine. It seemed very clear he had no idea what effective studying habits were. Another was a time helping a student who had fallen so far behind in everything with a pile of maths papers nearly 15 cm high. I was too late for those students and as my quite intelligent son started approaching highschool with maths problems, I realised that a lot of these kids had missed something in primary for whatever reason.
Since then I have made a special effort with students who have the potential to slip through the cracks and fulfil the labels that teachers call them. With the mind map above, whilst simultaneously helping he student with his upcoming assessment, I also gave lessons in mind-mapping, studying, taking notes, how the teenage brain works. I have done similar work with other students and in all cases have seen improvements in their studies, submission of work and most importantly,, I have seen them develop a strong sense that change is possible. Oh and they enjoy class more.
I was extremely proud of what Abi did with his material.
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