Blog Post #3

The big question on this post is how will I use developmental principles to meet students where they are? That is a loaded question that I can not wait to unpack. In class we learned a lot about the child to adolescent developmental process, and the changes that happen over time. Meeting students where they are at is very important to making connections with every student you come in contact with. When you meet students where they are they will gain more knowledge from your teaching. All students have different needs and develop at different rates. Knowing how to gear your lesson to your students is a very important skill as a teacher instead of just having your students listen to your pre-planned lesson. In the long scheme of things you want all your students to succeed and in order to do this you have to listen to their verbal and nonverbal cues to determine how they are grasping onto the material. If they are not getting it, you need to shift your lesson and meet students where they are at physically and developmentally. 

I will use developmentally appropriate activities to meet the needs of my students. I realize that every student develops in different timelines which also affects their learning process. Using activities that grasp your students attention, and when you take time to individually target each student specifically to make sure they are gaining the most information they could be. Meeting your students where they are at has to deal a lot with relationships, and targeting the context of the curriculum to meet their needs. If you are not meeting your students where they are at developmentally then they are not going to gain anything from your teaching. Using different learning styles, and different ways of teaching a topic can meet students’ needs. Having interactive activities is one example to really engage your students in the coursework. Student led learning vs. lecturing has a big impact when it comes to meeting the needs of your students. As a teacher you have to reflect on your teaching by seeing how your students are interacting in the classroom. If they are not connected to the class then you have to adjust yourself as a teacher, students are not to adapt to your teaching. Your teaching has to adapt to your students’ needs. 

Your teaching is very important for the development of your students, but for students to retain the information as a teacher you have to be open to change. Your students are forever changing through their development, so your teaching also has to develop along with your students.