Guest Blog: Embracing Neurodiversity
This month’s guest blog post is from The Boston Group, an educational consulting company that specializes in customized professional development for educators and school communities, program refinement, school choice and admissions support, and individual student coaching and advocacy. I had the pleasure of seeing Brandon Boston and Tanya Lynch present at the FCIS Conference in Jacksonville in November and was thoroughly engaged and intrigued. Often times we struggle with “the curse of knowledge.” Meaning once you know something or can do something, it is remarkably hard to remember what it’s like to not know or be able to do that thing. Brandon and Tanya help educators understand what it feels like for some of our students with neurodiversity. When you experience it first hand, you develop a deeper connection and understanding with your students. You’ll find strong connections in this message to the Representation principle of Universal Design for Learning - where we work toward creating expert learners who are resourceful and knowledgeable.
Embracing Neurodiveristy: The Single Most Important Responsibility of Every Educator
by: The Boston Group
Have you ever stopped to think about the unique ways that each student in your classroom processes and retains information? If you're like most teachers, you probably have a variety of students with different learning preferences and abilities in your classroom. But have you considered that some of these differences may be due to neurological diversity?
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Neurological diversity, or neurodiversity, refers to the idea that our brains are wired differently, and that these differences should be celebrated and accommodated in educational settings. With one in five children in the United States having a learning difference or attention issue, it's more important than ever for teachers to understand and embrace neurodiversity in their classrooms.
Think about it, every student in your classroom is a unique individual with their own strengths, challenges, and learning preferences. So why should the curriculum and instruction be the same for everyone? We're not suggesting that the curriculum needs to be individually tailored for each student, but rather that the path to achieving the standard targets and outcomes should be flexible to accommodate each student's unique needs.
In our ebook Embracing Neurodiversity: Unlocking The Potential of Every Mind we provide valuable insights and resources for teachers who want to support all learners in their classrooms. We emphasize the importance of ongoing professional development and share tips, tools, and strategies to help educators create inclusive and supportive learning environments. As we explain in our book…
“It’s like being a master chef and giving every student the same ingredients but allowing them to create something unique with it. One student might make a pizza while another makes a soup, but in the end, they will both have created a delicious meal.”
By using good teaching strategies for all learners, we can help all students achieve the same end result, but through a unique journey that meets their individual needs.
So, how can we start embracing neurodiversity in our classrooms? Here are a few tips:
Provide a variety of tools and strategies: Offer multiple ways for students to access and engage with information, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and audio and video materials.
Foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment: Encourage a positive and collaborative classroom culture where all students feel valued and respected.
Engage in ongoing professional development: Stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices for teaching diverse learners, and seek out opportunities for professional growth and development.
We can create learning environments that support and empower all students, and help them achieve their goals and dreams. At the end of the day, it's about helping every student reach their full potential and succeed in life.
If you're interested in learning more about how to embrace neurodiversity in your classroom, connect with Brandon and Tanya. They can support you in taking your teaching to the next level and helping all students succeed. You can reach then via phone at 561.926.5239 and email thebostongroup0@gmail.com. You can also connect with them on social media @MrBostonBB and @TanyaSLynch.
If you are interested in discussing connections to Universal Design for Learning and/or effective mathematics instruction contact us here at Growing Minds Consulting and sign up for our email list so you do not miss out on other great blog posts and resources.
