VTS has provided differentiation for all of my students in my focus class. This is a class full of students that very in learning needs and learning methods. As I have stated in the past this class has about 1/3 of the students with a learning profile provided by the Learning Consultant. It also has about 1/4 of the students in honor classes. This makes differentiation strategies a must in my teaching methods.
Concerning VTS, it provides differentiation in every lesson. For example, just in the content of the discussion, students present ideas through auditory explanations and visually through my finger pointing. I also scaffold vocabulary providing students new vocabulary reaching readiness levels.
Through the process of VTS, students are able to learn from one another. Advanced learners can provide insight to struggling learners to extend their thinking skill and their ideas. This is a way of differentiated instruction creating a learning experience for all learners. We can meet students where they are in their learning style and challenge them to enhance there skill level.
I have seen VTS reach to my struggling learners. They are now thinking differently about a work of art by trying to figure out what is going on. They learn from their classmates and are not afraid to give their own opinion now.
Students are excited about a work of art. They like to look deeply into an image and find its meaning. Students discuss their art in different ways. They want to create something that has meaning to the views and their self.
Molly,
ReplyDeleteI continue to be impressed reading about your experience VTSing in the high school. The class you are describing sounds very tough and challenging as a teacher looking in. VTS is great for this class because every students moves at his/her own pace through the stages. The students do not have to move through the stages together making it a great tool and strategy to use in the art classroom. You mentioned struggling learners vs. advanced learners and seeing how they are learning from each other during the process you have went through. It is great to see this happening in a classroom and VTS is extremely student centered with the teacher only acting as a facilitator. Sounds like it is going good!
Wow! What a heterogeneous mix of students and abilities! (And perfectly suited to the differentiation that VTS provides!) You are providing the same rigor and high expectations for all of them and allowing them all to successfully participate because of the nature of the VTS questions which meet them where they are. Very exciting!
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