Comments on: How can we make sense of personalized learning?

By: Carly

Carly — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 22:20:05 +0000

Personalized learning is a challenge, especially as class sizes grow and student assistants are being eliminated. We are constantly being told to do more with less. That said, I have found several ways to keep intervention personal. First, I rely on programs like AM/AR to provide daily data about those who are on and off target. Without that I’d be lost. Centers are critical. Teaching center expectations is critical. Of course, some students will always take advantage and/or not do their best work if given independence. I use the carrot and stick approach. I recognize and reward those students who do well. Those who have issues of concern are dealt with individually. Some get the privilege of sitting with me at lunch so we can discuss strategies for better outcomes. Whatever it takes. One thing I’ve learned is to not have too many centers. I only implement a few centers that may take students several days to complete, while I pull groups to work with me.

By: Kelley Adcock

Kelley Adcock — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 21:08:22 +0000

I teach reading and language arts intervention classes at the high school level in a co-teach setting. Our classes are roughly 45% students with IEPs and 55% students without IEPS – all of whom will receive the same diploma at the end of the road, and all of whom will be competing for many of the same jobs and training programs after them. My co-teacher and I firmly believe in individualizing the key skills, but also making sure that our students understand that there are common requirements in life after high school. It is critically important to keep the end goal in sight when individualizing instruction and assignments for students!

By: Jamye Jaco

Jamye Jaco — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:10:21 +0000

I totally agree with personalized learning, but there is not enough time in the day to do this. It would be a perfect world if we could make this happen!

By: Donna Nichols

Donna Nichols — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:29:22 +0000

I agree completely with personalized learning. I do believe our school system structure would need to change in order for this to be possible. But I think this is the future.

By: Virginia T.

Virginia T. — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:48:49 +0000

Great article! We all individualize with our struggling students but these were some great tips to make it work for the whole classroom.

By: Jeanie Walker

Jeanie Walker — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:59:59 +0000

I love the idea of making learning personal; however, the challenge is finding time to fit all of the progress monitoring, assessments, and other requirements into the day.

By: Andi P.

Andi P. — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 17:40:25 +0000

Insightful article, I will share with teachers in my building during our collaborative data meetings.

By: Belinda

Belinda — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:53:18 +0000

unfortunately there isn’t enough time to be able to individualize education for all students.

By: Fatima Peters

Fatima Peters — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 01:49:05 +0000

I think this was a great article and to comment on Lloyd’s post, I personally do not feel that enough administrators do not provide enough time or support to the teachers. I am on the local school council at my sons school and often during our meetings the subject of not enough support is shown in regards to individualized learning instruction and the teachers are frustrated! My principal, I work for completely supports personalized and individualized classroom instruction only when it comes to reading. The reading teachers at my school are happy but the math teachers are not, they would love to see the same support.

By: Narda Lugo

Narda Lugo — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 00:38:04 +0000

Definitely needed in education, individualized vs. differentiation, but not in everything.

By: David Keech

David Keech — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 00:13:30 +0000

Our team at our middle school has incorporated some time for students to work on ‘Genius Hour’ projects, individualized projects that have no set due date, and students select the topic and format. Personalized learning for sur.e

By: Chimere McRae

Chimere McRae — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 22:22:28 +0000

I’ve never thought about it this way before. Great read!

By: Carly Schwartz

Carly Schwartz — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 20:12:38 +0000

This really is a huge problem especially without teacher assistants in the lower grade levels. Expecting young children to have the intrinsic motivation and the stamina to stay on task, no matter the level of engagement the center has to offer, is not realistic. I do center work because it is the only way for me to assist my struggling learners. I take time to teach center expectations, which helps, but some students interrupt and ruin the centers for others. Therefore, I’m careful about those I allow to collaborate and those who take their center to do at their desks. Collaborative centers can get loud and intrusive. I spend a good deal of time organizing centers. AM helps. I only have 6 computers for a class of 22 students, so centers are the only way all students get time to do AM live. In conclusion, personalization is possible, but it is not easy.

By: Thomas B. Coleman

Thomas B. Coleman — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 10:36:48 +0000

Personalization vs individualization vs new point of view = another reformation. There is no limit to perfection. There always will be something to improve – to give more individualization, to make classroom smaller, to change the educator’s salary, to get more funding etc. Did you read this Huffingtonpost article ? All we need is to stop suggesting and to start listening our children.

By: Kada

Kada — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 08:47:29 +0000

It is very hard fit in all the programs we are required to use and all the testing that take place to do all the things mentioned in this article. Great ideas if the day was longer.

By: Rita Platt

Rita Platt — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 21:50:46 +0000

One thing I like to keep in mind is that “personalized learning” does not mean the same thing as online learning. Also, that is doesn’t mean personalization for every minute of every day. This post points that out. I greatly appreciate it.

By: Jennifer Slade

Jennifer Slade — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 19:51:14 +0000

A daunting task to say the least, with all of the demands placed on teachers. I do believe that even the best educators do what they can, but the personalization/individualizations/differentiation idea will never be perfected. It’s probably one of the biggest obstacles teachers face today.

By: Renee Graham

Renee Graham — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 19:28:52 +0000

In a perfect world, these would be great strategies. I don’t see how I could possibly implement this in my classroom. If I had an aide, a secretary, a bookkeeper, a counselor, a data entry person, well you get the drift.

By: P R

P R — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 19:06:06 +0000

I remember when I was in school that my favorite teachers created engaging lessons that relied on students taking responsibility for their learning after the concept taught was mastered. The article’s ideas are truly needed for our students to achieve self confidence and progress in their education However with today’s emphasis on testing results, using time wisely, and RTI/MTSS paperwork, how will teachers be able to personalize, individualize, and differentiate in such a wide capacity? What items that teachers are required to complete will be removed so that teachers could be able to implement personalized, individualized, and differentiated education with fidelity and success?

By: D Maza

D Maza — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 18:08:26 +0000

I think we tend to do these things more when we see a student struggling than over all all the time.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 15:38:04 +0000

The concepts are well intentioned based on the needs of the learners in our classrooms. However as was raised in the article is it feasible in the current educational structure to implement personalization and individualization on a wide scale with the additional demands placed on teachers? Do administrators simply provide enough time?