One Size Fits All?

If you choose to read this blog entry, you should know that this is one of my soap boxes issues. I may teach a class of Kindergarten students, but what I really see is a classroom of thirteen different students. Each of my students is unique. While we may think that the fair thing is to treat all children the same, the reality is that each child has different needs. Each student deserves to be treated with love and respect, but those things are expressed in different ways depending on the needs of the child.

The question that I find myself thinking about after hours is "How do I meet the needs of each of my students?" Answering that is not always easy. I find myself reflecting on my role as a teacher often as I seek to become a more effective educator.

Treating kids fairly is not treating them all alike. If I expect all of my students to have the exact same abilities, I am definitely treating someone unfairly. This is best illustrated in a story.

"One day in class, George came to his teacher complaining about a cut on his finger. His teacher responded with empathy and put a band aid on the cut. Sharon came to the teacher next. She woke up with a headache. Again, the teacher responded with empathy and put a band aid on Sharon's head. This continued with Beth, Timothy, and Victoria. Beth had an upset tummy, Timothy a broken leg, and Victoria a fever. Each time the teacher responded with empathy, giving Beth, Timothy, and Victoria each a band aid. Each child was treated the same, but was each child treated fairly? No. The only student that needed a band aid was George. Sharon might have been helped with medicine, Beth missed breakfast and just needed a few crackers, Timothy needed a cast on his leg, and Victoria needed to go home for the day to get some rest."

Just like the students in my example, each of my students have different needs. I am still learning how to challenge your children and in what areas your child may need additional help.