Classroom Instruction part of the Education Reform Network

Understanding Your Students

Teachers are like music conductors guiding the performance of each individual student. Teachers need to understand each student's abilities, personality and background in order to successfully scaffold learning. This area provides articles that address the topics of individual learner needs personalizing instruction, special education, culture and ethnic background, diversity, and gender.

• Interaction Skills
  Effective communication skills are the building blocks for the development of positive interactions in the classroom. This article discusses the impact of the physical setting, instructor attitude, hints for encouraging student participation, wait-time for questioning, handling student responses to questions, and responding to students' questions.