Catering for learner diversity in the primary English classroom

Date :

10 March 2015

Time :

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Place :

School Hall, Kowloon Technical School, 332-334 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon

Aims of Activity :

• To introduce strategies for varying material design and teaching process to cater for the wide range of diversities found in the classroom

• To share how the strategies can be applied in unit planning and classroom teaching to cater for the needs of different students

2:10 pm - 3:25 pm

• What is learner diversity?

• Why do we need to cater for learner diversity?

• How do we cater for diversity?

    - Teachers shared their schools' practices in catering for learner diversity.

3:40 pm - 4:20 pm

How do we cater for diversity?

• Varying teaching process

    - Grouping

    - Questionging

    - Scaffolding

    - Active learning

4:20 pm - 4:45 pm

How do teachers cater for learner diversity in reading and writing lessons in everyday teaching?

• Use scaffolding in unit planning

• Use 'Active learning' strategies (e.g. colour coding, multiple intelligences, such as interpersonal intelligence) in material design

• Use flexible grouping

4:45 pm - 5:00 pm

Conclusion

• Key messages on how to cater for learner diversity:

    - Set realistic expectations of all students and provide adequate time and support

    - Aim at helping all the students move on the continuum of progress, advancing from the current stage to the next stage of students' language development

    - Give each student, notwithstanding their proficiency levels, the opportunity to reach their full potential

    - Use different strategies to broaden students' interests and stretch their learning styles so that they will become flexible and versatile learners