September 3, 2009

Although I never really knew this until reading the book, I have always aspired to be a differentiated teacher. I agree with the concepts from the reading in Part 1 and am trying to be what the text described: a responsive teacher who is aware of my students' needs and acts as an encourager. Tomlinson and Edison mentioned many techniques and qualities differentiated teachers have and use. Although morning meetings were not specifically mentioned in this particular part of the reading, I feel they will be a great aid in creating a differentiated classroom environment.

I had never heard of morning meetings before last Thursday. As far as I can tell, morning meetings are a great resource to use in the classroom! I was a little unsure about how to begin creating a sense of community and belonging for all in my first classroom. Now, I have a better understanding about how I can do that.

Morning meetings offer a structured yet differing way to begin each school day. Students will develop language skills, self-control, and problem-solving abilities. Throughout the greeting, sharing, group activity, and news and announcements, students are able to talk to each other about things going on in their lives along with work on small academic activities.

I remember feeling stressed a lot during elementary school. I was worried about coming in first during the math drill and getting 100% on my spelling test. I was so worried about competition and being the best! Stress and feeling threatened are causes of failure as far as academics go, as I have seen first hand. When students take charge of their learning during morning meetings, they are able to let go of those fears. The text mentioned something to the effect that each student should be competing with only him or her self to reach his or her personal best. When a sense of community has been obtained, students won't feel the need to prove they are better than any other individual.

I tried to think of some cons to get a broader view of morning meetings, but cannot. I have come to see that morning meetings are great in every way. In my journey of becoming a differentiated teacher, I will incorporate the techniques from morning meetings into my classroom. From the testimonials and advice in the articles, I have come to see that I know of no other way to create such a sense of community in a differentiated class for each and every student.