Catering For Mixed Ability Case Study

Having completed four weeks of teaching so far, which issue is of greatest importance to me as a pre-service teacher? I would consider the aspect of both teaching and catering for mixed ability as the most prominent issue to date. Catering for all student’s needs and abilities is critical for practicing inclusive teaching and also to sustain pupil’s motivation and interest in the subject cohort. I wish to address the issue of catering for mixed ability by reflecting on how my own learning of this issue has developed, the effect of innovative teaching, and my priorities for future teaching.

Since the commencement of this my teaching placement, I feel that my knowledge, skills and understanding of the catering for mixed ability has improved.
How can I cater for all students’ abilities in a given class? I must focus on inclusive practices and also my assessment techniques. I must include all students in activities and questions but I need to be careful of my instructions and verbal questioning proposed to each individual student in order to avoid excluding students and harbouring discomfort within the classroom environment. I need to cater for slow-learning students by presenting them with questions and tasks that are suitable, relatable and accessible to their needs (both social and emotional) and their cognitive abilities. This does not rest merely on the hands of a Special Needs Assistant, but rather it is a fundamental factor when planning for and teaching a given
Over the last number of weeks, I have noticed the hugely positive effect of innovative teaching on students learning. Students have shown a great sense of eagerness to learn as a result. Another aspect of my teaching that I wish to integrate more in future lessons is the innovative approach of including visual enhancements, imagery analysis and linguistic puzzles such as word blanks. Wileman (1993, cited in Stokes, 2001) refers to this as “‘visual literacy’... with the emphasis on the action by the learner to create recognition”. I have integrated visual aids in order to motivate students and to inspire them to think critically, innovatively and independently. I feel that integrating visual literacy and analysis into a given class will entice students to become responsible for their learning alongside nourishing their communication and teamwork