FS 1

Learner’s Characteristics: Gender, Strength,

Language, Experiences, Culture, Religion,
Socio-economic Status, Difficult Circumstances,
and Indigenous Peoples

Now, I think you are ready to observe how differences in gender, racial,
cultural, and religious backgrounds, including coming from indigenous groups
influence learner behavior, interaction and performance in school. You will also be
given an opportunity to analyze and reflect on practices that teachers use in
leveraging diversity in the classroom. Further, you will also observe how differences
in abilities affect interaction in school and learn about strategies that the teachers use
in addressing the learners’ needs towards effective teaching and learning.

At the end of this episode, you must be able describe the characteristics and
needs of the learners from different background; identify the needs of students with
different level of abilities in the classroom; choose the best practices used by teachers
in differentiated teaching in catering the different needs of diverse learners in a class;
demonstrate understanding and acceptance of learner’s diverse background.
 Read the following concepts and principles relevant for this learning episode.

I. Principles of Development
A. Development and learning proceed at varying rates from child to child,
as well as at uneven rates across different areas of the child’s
functioning (NYAEC, 2019).
B. Development and learning are maximized when learners are
challenged to achieve at a level just above their current level of
mastery, and when they have many opportunities to practice newly
acquired skills.
C. Differentiated instruction is a student-centered approach that aims to
match the learning content, activities and assessment to the different
characteristics, abilities, interests, and needs of learners.
II. The Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) Domain 3
enumerated the following factors that give emphasis about the diversity of
learners.
A. Differences in learners’ gender, needs, strengths, interests, and
experiences
B. Learners’ linguistic, cultural, socio-economic, and religious
backgrounds
C. Learners with disabilities, giftedness, and talents
D. Learners under challenging circumstances which include geographic
isolation, chronic illness, displacement due to armed conflict, urban
resettlement or disasters, child abuse, and child labor.

III. Focus on Indigenous People

To learn more about IPs, read the following:

➢ Republic Act 8371 –The Indigenous People’s Rights Act
➢ DepEd Order No 32, s 2015- Adopting the Indigenous People’s
Education (IPED) Curriculum Framework particularly the 5 Key
Elements of an Indigenous Peoples Education Curriculum. These
are the Curriculum Design, Competencies and Content; Teaching
Methodologies and Strategies; Learning Space and Environment;
Learning Resources; and Classroom Assessment.

Now, are you ready for your next observation activity? I bet you are, so let’s begin.
 Your Activity 3.1
Observing Differences among Learners’ gender, needs,
strengths, interests, and experiences; and differences
among learners’ linguistic, cultural, socio-economic,
religious backgrounds, and difficult circumstances

Resource Teacher ______________________________ Signature: ______________________

Subject Area: ____________________________________ Date: ____________________________

To realize your learning objectives, you need to work on these steps:

1. Observe a class in different parts of a school day (morning, afternoon)
2. Describe the characteristics of the learners in terms of age, gender, and
social and cultural diversity.
3. Describe their interactions that transpires within the classzoom or
classmeet.
4. Interview your Resource Teachers about the principles and practices that
they use in dealing with diversity in the classroom.
5. Analyze the impact of individual differences on learners’ interactions.

Read the Observation Guide below before you begin with your observation.
Then, write your observation report on the space provided.

AN OBSERVATION GUIDE FOR THE LEARNERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

1. Find out the number of

students. Gather data as to
their ages, gender, religious
and ethnic backgrounds.

2. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 3. Interview

QUESTIONS THAT REFER TO the Learner
YOUR OBSERVATIONS ON and the
CLASS INTERACTIONS Resource
Teacher.
1. Present the data gathered through a graphical presentation.

2. While observing classes, note to answer the following questions:

2a. How much interaction is there in the classzoom or classmeet? Describe the
learners’ interactions with the teachers and with one another.

2b. Cite an instance where a learner interacts with another learner? How they
interact with each other?

2c. Do the learners cooperate with or compete against each other? Why do you
say so?

2d. Who among the students participate actively? Who did not?
 2e. When the teacher asked the question---How did they react or respond? Is
there a method where they can be recognized by the teacher?

3. After answering the five questions, it is your turn to interview the teachers
about their experiences about learners in difficult circumstances. Request
them to describe these circumstances and these affected the learners. Ask also
on the strategies they use to help these learners cope. Ask them further on the
strategies they apply when addressing the needs of diverse learners due to the
following factors:
✓ Gender including LGBTQ
✓ Language and Cultural Differences
✓ Differences in Religion
✓ Socio-Economic Status
Write your narrative report below.
 Based on the observations, reflect to answer the following questions.
Add more spaces when needed.

1. Identify the persons who play key roles in the relationships and
interactions in the classrooms. What roles do they play? Is there somebody
who appears to be the leader, a mascot, an attention seeker, a little teacher,
a doubter, or a pessimist?

2. Are the students in class well-engaged? Why or why not? What does the
teacher do to address low engagement among learners?

3. How does the teacher influence interactions considering the differences of

the students? In virtual class ? In face to face class?

4. What strategies does the teacher use to maximize the benefits of diversity
inside the classroom? How does the teacher leverage diversity?
How did you feel being in that classzoom or classmeet? Did you feel sense of
oneness or unity among the learners and between the teacher and the learner?
 Your Activity 3.2
Observing Differences among Learners with Disabilities,
Giftedness and Talents

To realize your learning objectives, work your way through these steps:

1. Watch demonstration teaching videos on youtube with any of the following:

➢ SPED Class with learners with physical disabilities
➢ SPED Class with learners with intellectual disabilities
➢ SPED class for the gifted and talented
➢ Regular class with inclusion of learners with disabilities
2. While watching, note on the needs of the learners that the teacher should
address.
3. Virtually interview the SPED teachers to find out more about the learners.
4. Analyze your observation data.
5. Reflect on your experience.

Use the observation guide below to document your observations. Read the
guide very carefully before you begin. Then write an observation report on the space
provided.

AN OBSERVATION GUIDE FOR THE LEARNERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

1. Observe the class to see the differences in abilities of the learners. Try to identify
those who seem to be performing well and those that seem to be behind.

2. Observe the behavior of the learners in the class. Note their dispositions, pace in
accomplishing the tasks, interaction with teacher and interaction with classmates.

3. Observe the teacher’s method in addressing the individual learning needs of the
students in the class.

4. Virtually interview a SPED Teacher , if possible, to find more about the learners and
to confirm your observation.
 Observation Report
Link of the Watched Video ___________________________________
 Based on the observations, answer the following questions. Add more
spaces when needed.

1. Did your observation match the information given by the teacher you
interviewed?

2. Describe the differences in ability levels of the students in the class. What
practices or strategies are done or should be done to differentiate instruction
to meet the needs of the learners?

3. Describe the methods used by the teacher in handling the student’s

differences in abilities. How did the students respond to the teacher? Did the
teacher use differentiated instruction? If yes, describe how it was done.
Recall the time when you were in elementary or high school. Recall the high
achievers and low achievers in class. How did your teacher deal with the
differences? Was the teacher successful in dealing with it?

What dispositions and traits do you think, as a future teacher, will you need to
meet the needs of the learners?
 With the principle of individual differences in mind, what methods and strategies
will you remember in the future to ensure that you will be able to meet the needs of both
the high and low achievers in class. Make a collection of strategies on how to address the
students’ different ability levels. Be creative in the presentation of your learning proofs.

Wow! Congratulations. You are done with the observation activity for
Learning Episode 3. To successfully end your Learning Episode 3, go to your LMS
and answer the Learning Episode 3 Quiz.