Chapter One from Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom

Chapter 1

1b. On page 10 of this reading assignment, Tomlinson says, “… we teach responsively when we understand the need to teach the human beings before us as well as to teach the content with which we are charged. … [It] is important to begin with the conviction that we are no longer teaching if what we teach is more important than who we teach or how we teach.” What does this mean to you?

I feel that this statement is very powerful and critical because we as teachers have the responsibility to first and foremost to remember WHO we are teaching. If we get caught up and too focused in the what and how of teaching, we tend to forget or continually overlook the unique learning abilities/disabilities of our students. I also really liked the metaphor that the book provides of The Little Prince and Differentiation. The taming of the fox is compared to the taming of our students in our classrooms. Sometimes we may feel that we have too much on our plate, too much to do, to be able to take the time and effort to "tame" each individual student. But as Tomlinson states,"if we take the risk to tame each child who comes our way, the uniqueness of every individual emerges". As we teach to the needs of each student through differentiation practices in our classroom, we encourage the uniqueness and individuality to shine brightly in every student. Our focus on creating differentiation in our classrooms will always help us remember WHO we are teaching and will guide us in what and how we teach. I, as a future teacher, want to help all of my students feel "tame" in my classroom. I want to create a learning environment where I will always focus on WHO I am teaching and continually differentiate my teaching to enhance their uniqueness and what they bring to their learning experiences.

Think about this field of wildflowers as a metaphor for a classroom of children. How does your perspective of the picture change as you look for the uniqueness?

As you look for the uniqueness of each student, you begin to see what each student brings to the classroom, each student's contribution to the picture as a whole or the classroom as a whole. Some students may be those who are just "bearing buds", while others may be those who are just yet seeds and need to be planted and nourished for their uniqueness to grow and flourish. Others may have fully bloomed in their own unique way. Each contribute to a beautiful classroom. As you first look at your class, you may not recognize or see the individualism that exists, but as your perspective changes and grows, the picture begins to change and each student's uniqueness begins to shine like a beam of light.