The knowledge of one's students goes far deeper than a basic level of knowing their names and maybe some of their interests. Knowing students is multi-faceted. Each of group of students has certain developmental characteristics, meaning intellectual, social, and emotional. A teacher must have a solid understanding of these different stages to best address their student's academic needs. What students can learn and understand is based on their prior knowledge and experiences. Students build their understanding on these experiences and teachers must represent the material in a way that relates to the students' prior knowledge. Additionally, teachers need to take into account the knowledge students bring to class that relates to their social and cultural characteristics. These characteristics influence how they interpret events and how they participate in the lessons. Skilled teachers help students build on these strengths and interests while developing all areas of competence.
Resources specific to Demonstrating Knowledge of Students (Component 1B)
|
Dare to Differentiate Wiki
http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/Knowing+the+Learner
|