Because of the diversity present in the middle or secondary classroom, teachers must address the individual characteristics and needs of students in order to enhance the chances of their learning success” (Smith, Gardin, & Murdick, 2012, p.166)

This chapter addressed so much relevant information, but I think this quote does a good job of grasping the main take-away. Our classrooms are a melting pot of unique individuals who come from a multitude of cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, have various likes and dislikes, interests, each have their own characteristics, are at different stages of development, and of course, learn in different ways.

Our most important job as teachers, besides teaching the curriculum, is to make sure that each one of our students feels welcomed, heard, understood, and respected in the classroom, thus teachers need to recognize that each student is also a unique learner, and therefore each have different needs and requirements. In order to be able to reach all our students, teachers need to “expand their teaching repertoire to include instructional strategies and teaching methods based on the needs of students, not personal preference”(Smith, Gardin, & Murdick, 2012, p.168). Our students are our priority, and as an educator, it is our job to put them before ourselves and do whatever we can to make sure they are obtaining an equal education, and the best that we can provide. I think it’s really important to think outside the standard classroom model and understand that a more dynamic, interactive, and changing classroom is beneficial to all students. We, as well as our students, should be able to explore what it is that makes our environment feel the most comfortable, and what can be done so that each student has an equal chance at success. Establishing a sense of community and openness with our students is a vital step in gaining a greater understanding of who they are as individuals, getting to know their strengths, and how to best accommodate their learning styles.