Differentiated Instruction Teaching Learners with Varying Abilities Research Paper

Differentiated Instruction Teaching Learners with Varying Abilities - Research Paper Example Teachers who adopt differentiated instruction often give children choices. They are flexible in the way they deliver content and exhibit creativity within the classroom. Availability of choice is only possible through an understanding of the knowledge that is needed to complete tasks. The educator must combine this knowledge with the children’s ability to develop and process skills and concepts. Catering to the needs of students with divergent abilities is at the heart of this teaching strategy. Historical summary of literature Differentiated instruction is nothing new in teaching circles. It has been in practice from as far back as the 1970s. However, at the time, educators that implemented the model had not identified a universal name for it. They were simply catering to the needs of their students. Therefore, the literature on the subject during this decade mostly focuses on the learning theories that support differentiated instruction. Some educational theorists wrote a lo t about the need for differentiated instruction. One such individual was Lev Vygotsky, who established the zone of proximal development theory (Logan, 2012). It was his work that formed some of the theoretical foundations of this teaching practice today. Vygotsky, in 1978, states that every learner has a zone of proximal development. At this level, the child will experience learning in a manner that is challenging but not too difficult for the child. An educator who meets the child at their zone of proximal development will promote teaching in the most effective way. They will provide instruction in a context that matches the readiness level of the child. Writers in the subsequent decade also examined the plausibility of differentiated instruction. Some looked at its effects while others counterbalanced this with a number of arguments. In 1987, Slavin highlighted the dangers of grouping students according to their ability. He studied analyses done in various schools and found that r egrouping of math students led to poorer achievement in schools that maintained the practice. The debate over differentiated teaching was just picking up momentum in the 1980s. During the 1990s, most literature on the subject revolved around proving that differentiated instruction can work. Sternberg and Grigorenko carried out a study to assess the impact of differentiated instruction in 1999. The investigators used students’ grade performance to determine whether this teaching model was effective. In order to sufficiently assess whether differentiated instruction had taken place, they looked at whether teachers attempted to match thinking styles with content. The two authors explained that a student could belong to one of three thinking styles. They could be practical thinkers who thrive in active-forms of delivery. Alternatively, creative thinkers require a different approach because they tend to look for hidden meanings. Thirdly, a student could be an analytical thinker wh o can find solutions in a seemingly complex set of variables. Matching instruction to these individuals’ thinking styles is what made the difference in their learning outcomes (Watts-Taffe et. a.l., 2012). One of the most influential theorists in this field is Carol Tomlinson. Differentiated instructions were spreading throughout various schools in the 90s.  It was necessary to look at the obstacles to implementation, which this writer studied intensely.     Ã‚  

Early american history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Early american history - Essay Example This followed a drastic change in the reforms at that time in America. The reforms that were made at that time included the following changes: All powers of legislation were transferred to a central body which was the Congress and constituted of the Senate as well as House of Representatives. Members from the House of Representative were to be reselected every two years and their qualifications were the basis of their selection. A minimum age of 25 was decided for political representation and the House of Representatives had the authority to choose their senior officials. There were to be two Senators from each state and each one will have equal representation. An annual meeting of the Congress would be held at the end of the year for discussing issues that arose in that year. Each House of Representatives was responsible for its actions and for regulating the behavior of its members, and had the right to punish or dismiss them if they did not follow the rules, regardless of their po sition. The House of Representatives shall be responsible for originating bills and the approved ones (the ones that had a simple 2/3 majority) shall be presented to the President for approval. The Congress had power to collect taxes etc. The judicial power will be entrusted to the Supreme Court before which a series of smaller courts would need to be passed. Congress will not make any kind of laws that prohibit people from practicing the religion of their own choice or hinder their freedom of any kind- speech or expression. Everyone will have rights such as the right to speak regardless of power and authority, race, religion or any other means of discrimination. Everyone was to be considered as having the same importance (Conlin, 1877). All in all, the source we are talking about here was not created for people who only want to read history because it is in their course work or just for the sake of it. The source is created by Joseph R. Conlin; students actually enjoy reading it an d read it by choice instead of force. The source basically describes the improvements that took place in the political scenario of America in the late 19th century but is does not tell us what America was before those changes occurred. The source tells all the improvements that were made at that time when changes were demanded by the minorities who were not treated equally, hence reforms were made so that political issues can be resolved, and there are central bodies that will deal with policies and procedures where everyone can participate with a certain qualification and each person has the right to get equal representation in the government regardless of position. Policies and procedures had become organized and more systematic and now there was a fixed procedure to get demands accepted. If two thirds of the Senate agrees to a certain point then that bill can be passed and presented to the President who may approve or disprove it because he has the final power. Moreover, courts a lso became very systematic and well organized. Supreme Court was the highest and any case would have to pass through the smaller courts to reach the Supreme Court which gave the final verdict (Conlin, 1877). Ultimately, it can be sad that the source explains the improvements very explicitly but only talks of the past very implicitly, if at

Deforestation and the effects on the environment with philosophical Case Study

Deforestation and the effects on the environment with philosophical theoretical issues - Case Study Example The specific social changes that are responsible for most of the environmental degradation are linked with rapid population growth, the proliferation of national and international trade leading to opening up of more markets due to increased demand and hunger for profits and major changes in land tenure systems that lead to the concentration of land. Traditional mechanisms were aimed at sustainable use of the environment. Since the days of the early man, nature was what guided man (Dharam, 1994). In fact, for the first civilization to exist, they had to adapt to the environment. Much has changed since those days as today, the reverse is true. Human beings no longer seek to adapt to the environment but rather seek for the environment to adapt to their needs. The insatiable need for energy has led to massive deforestation, mining and the use of unclean energy sources. These facts have led to the current infamous conditions generally referred to as global warming that is accelerated by t he emission of greenhouse gases into the environment (Gardiner, 2004). The trend does not seem reversible in the near future as there are very few viable alternatives to those causing harm to the environment and which humans can harness to the same magnitude as the unclean sources. The hunger for more energy is not the sole cause of environmental degradation. On the contrary, social inequalities on the lines of influence, material wealth and gender have been mentioned as part of the contributors to this dangerous trend. Environmental deterioration is not a light matter. In fact, there are numerous numbers of people who bear the blunt for the damage done to the environment. These effects may be manifested in the health, livelihood and well-being of the victims. Pollution and natural resource depletion can be in terms of soil erosion which robs the soil of its mineral contents and renders it infertile hence unable to sustain plants, deforestation which entails the cutting down of the very vegetation that is responsible for the purification of air and formation of rainfall and the depletion of both plant and animal species which inadvertently occasions an imbalance in different ecosystems (Munasinghe, 1993). When these occurrences happen, people are forced to change their ways in a bid to adapting to the new conditions. Consumption and production patterns are affected. The changes that lead people to change their income generating activities, to migrate and reorganize their entire livelihoods ultimately lead to the change in social structures (Vivian & Ghimire, 1990). The transformations usually have a ripple effect on other societies and the result is that more pressure is put on the existing natural resources. For example, a family that is dependent on electrical energy for their domestic usage in rural areas and who experience a dip in their disposable income will be forced to result to more economic sources of energy. This might lead them to adopt firewood an d coal as their primary source of fuel. Naturally, these alternatives are part of the environment and as such, more pressure on the already dwindling natural resources. Discussion Many people simply refer to deforestation as the depletion of forests. The Food and Agriculture Organization which is a department of the United Nations refers to deforestation as â€Å"complete clearing of tree formations (closed or open) and their replacement

PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example The article defines the adolescent depression as a disorder that affects teenagers. According to the author, such a disorder mostly leads to sadness, a loss of self-worth and interest in the activities and discouragement. It further elaborates the different causes and symptoms of depression in teens. Some of these symptoms are loss of but sometimes an increase in appetite, loss of concentration, decision making, fatigue, feeling upset, restless, and irritable, worthless, hopeless, self-hatred, thinking or talking about suicide or death and trouble sleeping. If the behavior of a teenager changes for more than the period of two weeks, then it is also considered as a symptom of depression. True depression in teens in most of the cases is difficult to diagnose, therefore the author emphasizes to gather the information from friend and family members to identify depression in teenagers. This article doesn’t only throw light on the medication and therapy for treating the depression b ut it also considers the possible complications and prevention techniques. (Berger) Depression can be a response to many situations factors and stresses. However, the author argues that in teenagers, depressed mood is common because of the normal process of maturing, the influence of sex hormones and independence or more freedom conflicts with parents. It may be cause of death of a friend or relative, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend and failure or poor grades at school. The author considers two mains factors that contribute to the depression in teens, the hormones and social pressures. By explaining the biological and hormonal causes of the problem, the article takes into account the epigenetic approach and by throwing light on the school performance and environmental stress the author takes a socio-cultural approach to this problem. However, the author did not approach this problem on the basis of other theories

NUMBERS DROP FOR MARRIED WITH CHILDREN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NUMBERS DROP FOR MARRIED WITH CHILDREN - Essay Example To be more precise and clear, a few statistical data can be taken into consideration. Over the last five decades, cohabiting couples in the United States have increased tenfold from 0.44 million to 4.2 million. Divorce rates have increased from 9 to 20 per 1000 married couples for the same period. Births to unmarried women have increased from 11% to 38% from 1970 to 2006. Nationally, more than 1.3 million children are born out of wedlock each year. While cohabitation, divorce and unmarried childbearing have increased, marriage in America has alarmingly declined over the last few decades. Married couples with children are one quarters of the total number of households and half of what was in 1960. Some are of the opinion that only the well educated and the well paid are interested in the institution of marriage. It has been observed that marriage not only declined less among the well educated and well paid, but also that they are less likely to divorce. Though college educated women i nitially prefer to live with a partner, they eventually do get married. However, it is worth noting that the constant increase in the number of people attaining college degree from 16.60 million to 88.75 million from 1950s to 1990s has not helped much in improving the statistics related to marriage. So, education is not the sole reason for the changes that are taking place. The increase in the well educated may not have made a direct impact, but indirectly, it has changed various other aspects of life. It has caused a gradual shift in people's priority from religion to science and technology. In the 1950s and 60s, religion played a vital role in keeping the count of cohabitation and unmarried childbearing low. But with the priority shifting, the emphasis is more on career and wealth maximization. Well educated men and women are less likely to marry those who are less educated. This has largely resulted in growth of income inequality. Before 1970, there was a broad based economic pro sperity which has gradually vanished. (http://www.chicagolandmarriage.org/marriage_statistics.htm) Apart from the economic dimension, some look at the same issue with the racial dimension in mind. Childbearing out of wedlock seemed to be more among the black people than the white. However, statistics in the recent past have shown that there has been a drastic decline in such births among the black teenagers (86% to 35% per 1000) as compared to the whites (24% to 12% per 1000). Hence, class based analysis seems to be a better tool. (http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/educ-attn.html) The question still lingers around as to what made the biggest impact, what is the reason for the way things are today. It is a well accepted fact that the present day situation is nothing but an outcome of the past. The number of marriages in the past may have been on the higher side, but there is no reliable statistical information on how many marriages out of those were actually doing well. People, who have spent their childhood in the shadow of a troubled marriage, most of the times, develop a fear towards getting into a serious relationship. Young people who have lived most of their lives in poverty would be of the opinion that marriage is not a commodity they can afford. Therefore, negative aspects in the past have made a negative impact now in

Fight For 8-hour work time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fight For 8-hour work time - Essay Example Several nations developed certain labor laws for avoid the exploitation of employees in an organization. These laws are mainly consists of minimum daily rest hours, annual holidays and a maximum number of working hours in a day or week for the employees welfare. Over the last three hundred years labor unions have gone through different situation and shaped different forms. Later these trade unions became the part of different political and economical regimes. Early labors are like friendly societies and they worked for the different benefits of labors and to insure workers against unemployment, bad health condition, oldness, and funeral expenses. In many nations especially developed countries, states have been taken responsibilities to do all these functions. The provision of professional training, legal advice, and representation for members are still playing major role of labor union membership. The international socialist organization, the international workingmen’s association (IWA) or First international, demanded 8 hour working time at Geneva Convention in 1866. 8 hour working day got preliminary success in New Zealand by the Australian labor movement for skilled labors in the mid of 19th century. At the early and mid of 20th century got more popularity and most of the employers accepted the 8 hour working time throughout the world. Eight hour day movement is the part of early history and reasoned for the celebration Labor Day and May Day in several nations. The origin of Labor Day namely May Day is bounded up with the movement of eight hour workday. During the year between 1885 and 1886, many strikes had happened in the United States for the part of eight hour work day movement. There were around 500 strikes and lockouts took place in between 1881 and 1884. Most of these movements were started on May First. The May first protest and strike were very aggressive i n Chicago. May first, 1890, was to witness nation-wide strike for the

Who Rules America Corporate America, Weber & Marx Essay

Who Rules America Corporate America, Weber & Marx - Essay Example The natural rights theorists aim was to show that man was born in a state of nature, and given the right to do as he/she wished, but this was sacrificed to the governance of the land, i.e. that the rational man would give up the state of freedom, for the security and safety of law, governance and sovereignty, but retain the right to obtain and accrue whatever property they wish as long as it is within the rule of law. This is the basis of the US, with its promotion of life, liberty and freedom. A key concept of the American way is that it is the land of equal opportunity and one can reaps the benefits for what they work for. In the US Corporate America and the values of capitalism have the ultimate power, where the equalities in economics are validated with the notion of equal opportunity for all individuals1. This pretty much follows the protestant work ethic, which theorists such as Weber supported; however in response to huge inequalities theorists such as Marx arose who argued th at to have economic inequality is an abuse of the power that the capitalist oligarchy holds. The following section will examine the theories of Weber and Marx The theory of Weber condones the exploitation of the workforce and the inevitable inequalities of economic power. This treatment and mechanization of the workforce may in the short term seem the best way to increase productivity at the minimum price. This is very much the rational approach to human interaction and the increasing of productivity, management and governance of individuals. If there is no objectivity then there can be no maximization of work productivity at the minimum cost. This follows the view of management and governance of individuals, whether it be in the workplace or the governance of the country, where each of the workers need to be treated objectively and equally. Weber also stresses the importance of inequality within the social structure for the workers. Therefore Weber's theory is more than the interaction between the management and the working class. Weber's theory has four parts of society which are; traditional and cultural history and rules; affectual - emotional shaping influences of society; wertrational - value orientated rationality; zweckrational - goal orientated rationality. Therefore the focus of Weber's theory is that society and management can be determined by these four spheres of social classification. The key notion that Weber developed in order to balance out the inherent inequalities is that of the rationalizing of society and law; hence if the values of the society and the goal's of the individual can be rationalized and de-mystified then equality and justice can be instituted to achieve the best system for the society and the individual to obtain these goals. Weber sees it as an important factor that has shaped society and important to understanding the development of societal structure and management. Therefore to truly develop a system that is fair and just and can transcend the barriers of inequality a rational discussion of society needs to occur in order to determine justice and the rights of mankind; however the inequality in the power that Corporate America holds over the labor market is inevitable and just.2 The model of Marxism, on the other hand, states that it does not regard the individual as having any human rights, instead it is for the state to set the needs of the individuals, i.e., it is not the good of the individual that the state upholds but the good and the needs of the state. Marx considered law, justice, freedom and democracy as ideas and concepts that are determined by historical and