Learning Environment

Learning environment is the where. The learning environment is the organization of time, space and resources for teaching and learning. It is the context in which teaching and learning takes place. Developing a strong community of learners is essential to effective differentiation.

Carol Tomlinson reminds us, "principles of teaching guide us, but are not recipes" (p. 31). She suggests creating "healthy" classroom environments. As starting points, which she advocates can be revised, added to, or subtracted from, Tomlinson gives us these ingredients:

• The teacher appreciates each child as an individual.
• The teacher remembers to teach whole children.
• The teacher continues to develop expertise.
• The teacher links students to ideas.
• The teacher strives for joyful learning.
• The teacher helps students make their own sense of ideas.
• The teacher shares the teaching with students.
• The teacher clearly strives for student individuality.
• The teacher uses positive energy and humour.
• Discipline is more covert than overt (pp. 31-34).