Chapter 2 What Really Matters in Teaching?

There were a few key concepts I learned when reading this chapter. The influence of the students and their lives on the curriculum that is being used was emphasized. This really struck me as I had never really thought about how that will effect what I do in the classroom. I am going to need to be mindful of the students I have, their strengths and weaknesses, and the personal situations I may be aware of, when I seek to develop a useful curriculum for them. However, as the book pointed out, this does not mean that I have to gear my lessons toward each individual student. I need to be mindful of the tools that can be used to allow me to ensure each student is reached. These may include small group learning, offering differentiated instruction, allowing alone work, informal assessments, and other teaching devices at my disposal.