Diversity in the Classroom

     The topic I am choosing to write about in my post this week is how teachers will work with students who are gifted or students who may have disabilities. Both of these types of students will be apart of your classroom setting and it is your job as a teacher to be able to accommodate them in the best way possible!
     As a teacher what can you do for your exceptional learners so they can succeed in your classroom?
     I think that it is very important to get to know every student you have, that way you can get an idea of how they learn and what type of person they are. This may include going out of your way to do research on their giftedness or disability so you can help them learn in the best possible way.
--There is not a law mandating special services to children who are "gifted or talented" but there are things that you can do as a teacher on your own that will challenge them and help them get the most out of their education.
--Students who do have disabilities often have more than one. It is important to in cooperate lesson plans that students at any level can take part in. If students need extra help, it is also important to be able to provide that as well.
More and more students are being discovered with exceptionalities than before because of the resources that are now available. Students representing all different levels are going to be in our classrooms and it is important that we are prepared to teach them in the best way we can. Discussing diversity in the classroom is a major step to creating a safe, accepting place where student can feel comfortable. Everyone is different and that is okay.

Tips for working with students with exceptionalities
This link provides just a few things to keep in mind when teaching students with excetionalities.

I think that it is very important to understand that all students are different. Patience is key, all students learn differently and at different paces. Every student is unique in their own way. We of course do not need to point out what makes them different because that can often put the students in uncomfortable situations. We just need to be able to understand what the best way to accommodate them is and do our best to provide am awesome classroom where everyone feels comfortable to learn.

 Image resource and Fairness image