The “one-size-fits-all” idea has truly been exposed as we’ve moved to remote and hybrid learning models due to COVID-19.  Think about it for a minute, regardless of whether your child is full remote or hybrid, are the assignments being differentiated to meet their needs or is every child getting the same lesson?  

The movement to differentiate has been going on for decades.  Educators discuss, research, and pilot it in classrooms, however, resistance to the method broadly exists.  Why wouldn’t you want to differentiate for all children, working to engage with them to maximize their potential?  I have witnessed some amazing educators who assess and design lessons to meet the needs of each student.  How can we expect teachers to differentiate when COVID reopening plans are the epitome of the “one-size-fits-all” concept.  

I spend a lot of time working with Special Education students, but what about the students that are struggling who aren’t classified?  Take a moment to consider your family.  Do you all process information and learn the same way?  On a daily basis, I’m able to see the differences in learning styles between our daughter and son.  One needs math broken down, demonstrating each step of the process, while the other does the majority of the math in their head and doesn’t want to show the work because it slows them down.  

Don’t get me wrong, I truly feel a majority of teachers are working harder than ever.  But why has it taken a pandemic to change what is going on in the classroom?  Teachers who embrace technology and always push themselves to enhance their craft have adapted quickly and are thinking outside the box to meet the needs of their students.  Teachers who are struggling are the ones who have been teaching the same way for years and have been uncomfortable or unwilling to change.  

The impact of this on our students is significant and simply put, we need to be better.

#standreadytosupport