“Teaching is a very habit-bound endeavor. We're unsettled by the unfamiliar. We're creatures of habit too.” Quote by Carol Ann Tomlinson
“Creating a classroom environment that encourages students to take the risk of learning. We've known for a long time that when students lack a sense of safety or of belonging or of contribution, learning takes second place to meeting those needs.” NeedsLongKnownEnvironmentRiskStudentsCreatingLong TimeSafetyMeetingsContributionBelongingClassroomSecond PlaceEncourage Students Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“Important element is deeply understanding our curriculum. Most teachers know what they're going to cover this week or this term. Few of us can specify precisely what students should know, understand, and be able to do as a result of any particular learning experience or set of learning experiences. Without that specificity, alignment between content, assessment, and instruction is weak.” KnowsShouldImportantAbleUnderstandingTermResultsTeacherWeekStudentsParticularElementsWeakInstructionAlignmentAssessmentCurriculumLearning ExperienceSpecificity Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“We aren't quite sure what we're trying to differentiate, and therefore can't quite see how to do it other than giving some students more to cover and some less. That rarely works.” GivingTryingStudentsDifferentiate Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“We need to understand where are students are at any point during a unit - in other words, what each student actually knows, understands, and can do at a given time based on the content goals we've established.” KnowsNeedsGivenGoalCan DoStudentsUnits Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“We need to develop a robust set of tools - strategies and routines - that help us address student variance. It's easy to come to rely on two or three "trusty" instructional strategies like worksheets and lectures. Those are of little help in planning for a variety of student needs. As we develop a better toolbox, we're empowered to meet students where they are.” NeedsLittlesTwoHelpingThreeEasyStudentsToolsStrategyPlanningVarietyRelyAddressesLecturesEmpoweredRobustVarianceLittle HelpToolbox Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“It's important to know how to lead and manage a classroom with flexibility. Students of all ages are quite capable of learning these routines and contributing to their success once the teacher is comfortable guiding students in that direction.” KnowsImportantAgeKnow HowTeacherStudentsComfortableCapableManageClassroomFlexibilityContributing Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“Until a teacher learns to use elements like time, space, materials, groupings, and so forth flexibly, it's incredibly difficult to teach students as they need to be taught.” NeedsUseDifficultSpaceTeachTeacherStudentsTaughtMaterialsElements Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“On some level students are essentially the same. They are people with fears and dreams. They laugh and cry over many of the same things. They share an essential humanity as young people always have.hey differ in some significant ways now, too, I believe. They are forced to grapple with complex issues at a much younger age.” PeopleWayBelieveDreamAgeYoungHumanityI BelieveLevelsLaughingIssuesShareCryStudentsEssentialsComplexesSignificantHeyFears And Dreams Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“[Students] are exposed to many things the majority of their teachers didn't encounter until much later in their growing up years.” YearsGrowing UpTeacherGrowingStudentsMajorityEncountersExposed Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson
“[Students] are also accustomed to having quick access to information. The idea of "storing" data in their heads can seem pointless. I find that they are also much more interested in learning through problem solving and group collaboration than in the past.” IdeasProblemSeemsPastGroupsInformationStudentsAccessDataCollaborationProblem SolvingAccustomedPointlessAccess To Information Author:Carol Ann Tomlinson