How do you help diverse learners overcome barriers?

1 Know your students

The first step to helping diverse learners overcome barriers is to get to know them as individuals. Learn about their strengths, challenges, preferences, goals, and cultures. Use surveys, interviews, portfolios, or other methods to collect information about your students. Use this data to plan your instruction, assessment, and feedback according to their needs and interests. For example, you can differentiate your content, process, product, or environment based on your students' readiness, learning styles, or interests.

2 Use universal design for learning

Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework that helps you design your curriculum and instruction in a way that meets the needs of all learners. UDL is based on three principles: multiple means of representation, multiple means of action and expression, and multiple means of engagement. These principles help you provide your students with different options for accessing, demonstrating, and participating in learning. For example, you can use different formats, media, and languages to present your content. You can also allow your students to choose how they want to show their learning, such as through writing, speaking, or creating. You can also motivate your students by offering them choices, challenges, and feedback.

3 Build on students' funds of knowledge

Funds of knowledge are the cultural and linguistic resources that students bring to the classroom from their families and communities. They include their skills, experiences, values, beliefs, and identities. By building on your students' funds of knowledge, you can help them connect their prior knowledge to new learning, affirm their identities and cultures, and foster a sense of belonging and respect in the classroom. For example, you can use culturally relevant texts, examples, and activities that reflect your students' backgrounds and interests. You can also invite your students to share their funds of knowledge with their peers and teachers, such as through storytelling, projects, or presentations.

5 Foster a growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be improved through effort and feedback. A growth mindset can help diverse learners overcome barriers by encouraging them to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and seek feedback. As a teacher, you can foster a growth mindset in your students by modeling it yourself, praising their efforts and strategies, providing constructive feedback, and setting high expectations. For example, you can use phrases like "You can do this if you work hard" or "What can you learn from this error?" You can also help your students set realistic and attainable goals, monitor their progress, and celebrate their achievements.

6 Engage in reflection and feedback

The last strategy to help diverse learners overcome barriers is to engage in reflection and feedback. Reflection is the process of thinking about your own teaching practice and how it affects your students' learning. Feedback is the information you receive from your students, colleagues, or other sources about your teaching practice and how it can be improved. By engaging in reflection and feedback, you can identify your strengths and areas for improvement, adjust your teaching strategies, and enhance your professional growth. For example, you can use self-assessment tools, peer observation, student surveys, or portfolios to collect and analyze data about your teaching. You can also seek feedback from your mentors, coaches, or administrators to get suggestions and support for your teaching.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?