How to Teach to a Diverse Classroom of Students

Each year teachers are faced with the daunting taskavailable as possible provides for this diversity. For
of teachingexample,
to a classroom of 20-30 individual students, each withwhen presenting information use audio (songs,
their ownspeeches,
learning styles, interests, and abilities. Providing optimalinterviews, etc.), video, books, posters, hands-on
learning for such a diverse group can seemmanipulatives, food, and smells. Technology has made
overwhelming. But,available
there is a simple approach that can be used which willa wide range of resources, such as PowerPoint
enablepresentations,
all students to succeed, and that approach is simplylive video feeds, chats, and communication.
usingPowerPoint
variety and choice. Not only does this approachpresentations are a great way to present information
address theusing a
multiple learning styles of students, but it also aides inmixture of audio, video, animations (movement), and
makingtext. These
them independent learners.While the classroom stillpresentations can also be made available to the
needs to have structure (routines,students via the
rules, procedures), providing variety within thatcomputer for them to review at their own pace. The
structuredinternet/
environment can aide in providing optimal learning forcomputers also offer interactive learning activities that
allcombine
students. Using a variety of instructional approachesmovement, visuals, and sounds, such as virtual science
such as
lectures, PowerPoint presentations, inquiry-basedexperiments. These allow students to conduct
instruction,experiments
hands-on experiments, project/problem-based learning,never before thought possible due to danger or lack
orof equipment.
computer aided instruction, not only addresses theVirtual experiments can be found at .Pre-exposure to
variousmaterial also aides in learning. The more
learning styles of the students in the classroom, but itfamiliar students are with a subject the easier it is for
can helpnew
learners become more flexible in their learning. Mostlearning to occur. Therefore, providing students with a
learnersvariety of pre-exposure materials can better prepare
do have a preferred learning style, however this doesthem for
not meannew learning units. For example, monthly calendars
they are strictly dependent on that style to learn. Theythat list
arethe upcoming themes, a classroom website with links
also comfortable with and able to learn from severalto various
other styleswebsites related to upcoming themes, books,
as well. Exposing students to a wide variety ofmagazines, maps,
learning stylesposters, computer software, and manipulatives can be
will enable them to become more flexible learners.It isprovided
also beneficial to vary the input devices used and thefor students to browse at their leisure. Providing a
resources made available in the classroom. Childrenvariety of
have a widematerials takes into consideration the learning
variety of preferred learning devices, thereforepreferences of
making as manyall students.