What modifications for learners who are exceptional do you see?

One of the modifications I saw was when I was asked to have each student read aloud to me.  I am observing in a first-grade classroom and most of the students are on very small books with easy vocabulary and large words.

But one boy in the classroom was on chapter 7 in his book.  He was given the opportunity to read books that were much advanced for the students in the class because he was ahead of them in reading.

The other thing I saw was that certain students were taken out of the classroom one at a time to read with a volunteer who was there to help them improve in their reading skills.  For most of the class period they were with the other students, learning what they were learning and how they were learning it, but at times when it was more beneficial for them to learn one-on-one with someone, they did so.

In what ways is the school in which you are serving similar to or different from schools in the earlier periods of history in the United States?

There is so much diversity in the classroom that I'm observing in.
In the seats I saw children with several different skin tones, hair colors, and even height.  The differences between these students don't matter to any of them.

The students in the class perhaps notice the difference in color and race but it doesn't matter to them.  They don't seem to have any knowledge of racism, of the struggle for equality, and other important battles for education.  But they are the ones that get to reap the benefits.  They are the ones that the battles were fought for.

It makes me feel grateful that they don't have to experience the hate and the anger that accompanied battles for equality in education.  It makes me grateful that those battles have been fought so that children can have equal opportunities.

How does knowledge of the way people learn relate to the experience of being a teacher?

There are three ways that people learn.  These ways are called learning modalities.  One modality is visual, one is auditory, and the third is Kinesthetic or tactile.  Visual learners learn best when whatever is being taught engages them visually.  Auditory learners learn best when whatever is being taught can be heard.  Kinesthetic learners learn best when they use all of their senses to learn.

Teachers have the obligation to teach their students.  When they know the different ways that students learn best they can then tailor their teaching styles and lessons to best help all of the students in their classes.  I saw this happen once when I went into my little brother's classroom.  The teacher was teaching rhythm and she had the students go into to the gym and use their feet to stomp out different rhythms.  They all loved it and I'm not sure they realized that they were learning, because they were having fun.  But she was able to teach to kinesthetic and auditory learners in ways that they would best be able to remember.