Educating students can be a highly challenging task for teachers, requiring insight into various topics. Different populations can significantly benefit from the inclusion of appropriate strategies which address their strengths and weaknesses. In this regard, considering the needs of each student and devising an efficient plan should be conducted with the use of available resources and materials. This paper will discuss the most prominent topics to be examined during curriculum creation.
Education for Immigrants, Refugees, and Interrupted Education Students
A distinct pattern of teaching activities is required for students receiving education in foreign countries. As such, the majority of immigrants and refugees experience significant difficulties adapting to the novel educational and cultural environment, meaning that it is essential for teachers to create an atmosphere that is supportive of these individuals.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) website is a remarkable resource for teachers and tutors, which offers guidance and teaching materials to incorporate into the learning curriculum (UNCHR, n.d.). After that, helpful knowledge is available on the American Psychological Association’s website, which addresses the needs of immigrant students and advises potential activities to be included in the teaching plan (Carter, 2019). Consulting this information and incorporating it into lessons may elevate the overall quality of education for all students.
An approach to teaching Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) and Students with Limited Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) is provided by the New America organization. Considering that the learning experience of such individuals is often interrupted by such devastating events as natural disasters, civil unrest, or migration, successfully continuing educational activities should be thoroughly supported by the teaching programs. This resource summarizes the most prominent SLIFE research and pertinent approaches to be incorporated into the mainstream classroom (Villegas, 2021). Given that the number of students with interrupted education continues to grow due to the pandemic obtaining this knowledge is crucial for teachers.
The Marzano Evaluation Model
A teacher effectiveness examination strategy proposed by Robert Marzano is a prominent model of teacher evaluation that allows establishing whether the implemented strategies are productive for student education. Core resources are available on the Marzano Center website, which provides both written and video explanations (The LSI Marzano Center, n.d.). The research data suggests that successful educators frequently follow standards-based planning, instruction, and learning, providing the students with the necessary information. During the evaluation, the educational materials, teaching techniques, tutor expertise, and responsibilities are assessed using the mentioned standards, clarifying whether the essential goals are covered.
Accessible Knowledge for Second Language Learners
A student receiving education in their second language may encounter significant challenges during learning and adaptation. In order to ensure the quality of education for these populations, the cult of pedagogy website offers the necessary support for traditional teachers, explaining the basic strategies behind relevant education methods (Gonzales, 2014). As such, it is essential to provide visual information, as well as ensure that second language students are included in the group work. Consulting this source is essential for ensuring a smooth transition into the new linguistic environment and successful community adaptation for learners.
Exceptional Education: Necessary Considerations
Specific populations require an altered method of teaching due to special needs. Considering that a more personalized and inclusive strategy is necessary for maintaining a proper level of education for these learners, the Practical Access Podcast focuses on prominent learning strategies (Practical Access Podcast, n.d.). Provided with the consideration of the exceptional education teachers’ personal and professional experience, the materials can be remarkably useful for any educator teaching people with disabilities.
Designing a Classroom Lesson in Florida
A valuable publication discussing the creation of an inclusive lesson plan is provided by the Florida Department of Education. Designing Lessons for a Diverse Classroom: A Handbook for Teachers is a detailed textbook that addresses the issues of choosing objectives, presenting content, and delivering feedback, thus offering a step-by-step discussion of lesson planning (Florida Department of Education, 2002). In addition, the official website of the state of Florida, CPalms, introduces video tutorials for teachers, explicating the most successful methods behind lesson design (CPalms, n.d.). With the help of these sources, a tutor can devise a thorough and inclusive activity plan.
Addressing the Needs of Multilingual Learners
Exceptional support from a prominent educational organization is available for teachers who provide language development services for multilingual students. World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) resource hub, supported by the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, offers a great variety of tools and materials for educators who teach youth from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds (WIDA, n.d.a). The platform also publishes video content from real classrooms incorporating WIDA resources, setting examples of vocabulary development and active comprehension (WIDA, n.d.b).
I chose these videos because they highlight the core principles behind WIDA’s activities, explaining their primary philosophical beliefs and presenting real-life examples that their strategy is beneficial for the learning experience. Teachers can gain vital insight into the basic principles of educating multilingual students, understanding that it is essential to cherish the capabilities of all learners.
Public School Law and Institution Responsibility
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is of substantial importance for the schooling establishments in the United States. This legislation ensures that all learners can obtain access to quality education services, incorporating annual statewide assessments for students and establishing a set of responsibilities for the nation’s schools (US Department of Education, n.d.). According to this act, schools should be accountable for the learners’ achievements and provide equal opportunities for all individuals. Considering my school, this regulation means that children from disadvantaged families with special needs, or any additional requirements, will be taught properly by the institution’s educators, supporting them to attain the highest possible accomplishments.
Inclusive Learning for LGBTQI Representatives
A valuable resource on education for the LGBTQI community was published by Stonewall UK, which provides a comprehensive overview of LGBTQ inclusive teaching. Although primarily focused on England legislation, universal educational strategies and information about the history of LGBTQ are represented in the necessary detail (Stonewall, 2019). Another crucial evaluation is offered by Barile (2021), who compiled a list of strategies promoting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth’s well-being. These activities are advantageous for students and teachers, contributing to the creation of an inclusive atmosphere in a mainstream classroom.
The Culture of Pedagogy: How to Maintain Cultural Inclusion
Modern classrooms are typically highly diverse, as students from numerous cultures attend the educational activities. In this regard, culturally responsive teaching focuses on the cultural background of the learners, suggesting that materials and insights from other cultures should be included in the curriculum to support cultural belonging. The website of Northeastern University published a detailed assessment of culturally responsive teaching, explaining its significance for teachers and proposing relevant strategies to implement in the mainstream classroom (Burnham, 2020). Consulting the resource can be beneficial for strengthening the learners’ sense of identity and belonging, as well as diversifying the course material and promoting equity.
Curriculum Article for Personal Practice
A curriculum article crucial for my future elementary school practice examines the design and enactment of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) approach. This research highlights the benefits of the STEAM strategy in devising effective learning plans and introducing teaching practices (Quigley et al., 2020). The authors report that incorporating relevant problems and facilitating student participation are essential tasks for teachers aiming to establish a productive atmosphere.
Annotated Bibliography
Barile, N. (2021). 5 things you can do to support your LGBTQ students. Hey Teach! Web.
A comprehensive article from a platform supported by the Western Governors University highlighting the primary activities that teachers should conduct to establish an LGBTQ-inclusive atmosphere in the classroom. I chose this source because it clearly explains the benefits of each practice, suggesting specific actions to complete.
Burnham, K. (2020). Culturally Responsive Teaching: 5 strategies for educators. Northeastern University. Web.
The current resource is a summary of culturally responsive teaching, presenting valuable methods to incorporate this strategy into various lessons. I added this source as it includes insights from credible professionals and research, as well as provides an explanation of basic responsive teaching techniques.
Carter, K. (2019). Resources for helping immigrant students succeed. Web.
A detailed overview is presented in this publication which outlines significant complications in immigrant teaching. This resource was included as it is supported by contemporary research and provides a list of materials to be used by teachers.
CPalms. (n.d.). Tutorial: How to create a lesson plan. Web.
A page hosting a video presented by the State of Florida, which describes how a successful lesson plan can be created and used. I added this resource as it represents the approach adopted by the Florida government.
Florida Department of Education. (2002). Designing lessons for the diverse classroom: A handbook for teachers.
A textbook that presents a step-by-step method of creating and implementing a successful lesson plan in the state of Florida. Given a thorough evaluation of necessary tactics, this resource was added to the paper.
Gonzalez, J. (2014). 12 Ways to support English learners in the mainstream classroom. Cult of Pedagogy. Web.
This publication is an excellent guide for teachers who want to include second language learners in classroom activities. Supported by quality research, the article explains the major techniques behind ESL practices for all tutors, which is why I included it in the overview.
Practical Access Podcast. (n.d.). Buzzsprout. Web.
An official web page for the podcast lead by Drs. Dieker and Hines, which was chosen as it comprehensively approaches exceptional education issues, offering resolutions for teachers, parents, and students.
Quigley, C. F., Dani, H., King, E., & Plank, H. (2020). STEAM designed and enacted: Understanding the process of design and implementation of the STEAM curriculum in an elementary school. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 29(4), 499–518. Web.
A research article exploring the benefits of the STEAM strategy for lesson design. I chose this publication as I am interested in the investigations regarding STEAM and plan to implement it during my elementary school practice.
Stonewall. (2019). LGBT-inclusive education: Everything you need to know. Web.
A publication addressing relevant concerns regarding LGBTQ-inclusive education and strategies to ensure a safe atmosphere for the learners. I incorporated this source as it answers the most pertinent questions regarding LGBTQI education, from history to relevant approaches.
The LSI Marzano Center. (n.d.). Teacher evaluation. Web.
A page from the official website of the Marzano Center, led by the author of the Marzano evaluation system. As this resource offers a comprehensive account of utilizing the model and introduces various supplementary resources for teachers, I included it in the review.
UNCHR. (n.d.). Teaching about refugees. Web.
This resource reflects the main concerns behind refugee education, suggesting prominent approaches to teaching. I added this website as it offers valuable strategies to use in mainstream classrooms attended by such students.
US Department of Education. (n.d.). Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Web.
This government publication states the primary objectives of ESSA, examining its purpose and providing necessary explanations. I chose this material as it is supported by official regulations and presents a sufficient review of ESSA.
Villegas, L. (2021). SLIFE lessons: How schools can draw on strategies designed for students with interrupted/limited formal education to help English learners in the aftermath of COVID-19. New America. Web.
This article considers the difficulties of teaching SLIFE students in the contemporary environment and offers relevant educational approaches, which is the reason I decided to incorporate it.
WIDA. (n.d.a). Mission and history. Web.
The official website of the WIDA organization, which was included as it addresses the basic principles of WIDA.
WIDA. (n.d.b). Standards in action. Web.
Another resource from WIDA was included as it provides examples of implementing WIDA standards in real-life classrooms.