Chapter 5: Teaching to the Individual, Working with the Group

In this chapter it focused on teaching the group in the classroom, as well as the individual. It touched upon the different "types" of kids that are in a typical classroom. These consist of: the eye roller, the wallflower, the hand-waver, the dreamer, the con artist, the goof-off, the workhorse. With acknowledging these different types of kids in the classroom, then the teacher is able to understand why certain kids participate, while others don't. In the classroom there are different levels of not only learning, but social skills as well. In the classroom, in order to get all kids to be involved teachers should "ask open-ended questions" (p. 91). Another way to reach the students individually is to have them work in small groups. This not only helps the teacher to reach the students as a small group, but also individually. The book states: "...set up purposeful group activities that depend on every student's doing things that foster learning" (p. 91).

After reading this chapter, I feel like I was provided with the tools to reach students in both the traditional classroom setting, and also in the group work setting. I feel that it is very important to reach every student in every situation that you are put into. I learned that when you are lecturing the classroom, you need to be aware of which students are doing what, and how they are reacting to your teaching. I also learned how to give each student responsibilities when they are working in group activities. They need to be held accountable for the work that they are doing individually and throughout the group.