230 likes | 1.24k Views
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS. The Challenge of Teaching Students at Different Levels Katie, Deby, Mo, Mike, and Rob Case Study B. Summary of Case Study. Karen Ellison has been a 6 th grade teacher for 8 years.
E N D
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS The Challenge of Teaching Students at Different Levels Katie, Deby, Mo, Mike, and Rob Case Study B
Summary of Case Study • Karen Ellison has been a 6th grade teacher for 8 years. • Her class reading ability is divided, with 2/3 at or near grade level, and 1/3 below 2 to 3 years below grade level. • She is challenged with how to teach the class essential reading and writing skills. • Currently, she tries to have everyone read the same level material in a large group setting, but it is not working.
Ms. Ellison’s Dilemma • The students with higher reading ability want to read books and enjoy reading aloud. • The students with lower reading ability would rather work in their workbooks and are embarrassed when they have to read aloud. • Karen is boring the higher level students and the lower level students are struggling and discouraged.
Identifying the Problems • Karen fails to address the differentiated nature of her class • Respect is non-existent in the classroom • She doesn’t take steps to correct behavior • Fails to engage in metacognition regarding her lesson plans and methods
Solutions • Implement differentiated learning in the classroom • Use metacognition to redesign her lesson plans to be more aware of her students’ abilities and learning styles. • Group work, with same levels for reading comprehension. Each reading group will read a story that is designed for their reading level in order to improve. • Jigsaw group work with different levels to explain your group’s story and to talk about the similarities and differences.
Learning Theories • Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development • Metacognition • Transfer: • High Road Transfer- purposely and consciously apply general knowledge, reading comprehension • Low Road Transfer – automaticity, workbooks • Intrinsic Motivation/Extrinsic Motivation • Bolstering Student (and Teacher) Self-Efficacy
PQ4R Theory • Preview: Survey/Preview the material to be read • Question: Develop Qs based on the outline of section headings to better understand key concepts. • Read: While reading the assigned chapter, students attempt to answers the Qs they developed. • Reflect: Taking breaks from the reading material and relate the new info to prior knowledge and examples. • Recite: Rehearsing information • Review: mentally think through the chapters Educational Psychology Theory and Practice by Slavin, 1994
Conclusion • Karen needs to recognize that her students have diverse needs at this stage in their development. • Students that are held back doing workbook activities and not being challenged, then they will not be motivated later on. • She needs to recognize that her lessons need to cater to the needs of the students with reading comprehension at almost a 7th grade level at the same time as a student still at a 3rdgrade level.
Question & Answer • If you were Karen, what would you have done differently? • Which theory do you think best applies to this case study? • Did you have any teachers that were successful in improving the low level learners while still exciting and challenging the high achievers? If so, how did this work?