Teaching Metaphor Revisited

In looking back at the teaching metaphor I created at the beginning of the semester, a gardner still seems like an appropriate parallel to teaching. Though the focus of the course was largely assessment, differentiation (including differentiation of assessment) was discussed throughout the class as well. Each students has a special set of backgrounds, interests strengths and weaknesses and it is important that all of these are considered when a teacher is planning both instruction AND assessment. Just as flowers need different amounts of light and water, students need lessons that are taught in different modes of learning, tests in varying formats, and different amounts of time spent on specific subjects. Just like a gardner must attend to the needs of all of his or her plants, a teacher must do the same with his or her students, so that they may grow and succeed!