wsma board perspective
Meeting the Needs of ALL Students Jon B. Gilliland, WSMA President
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Diversity as an educational issue is not a new topic. The notion that American schools, and specifically most classrooms, will contain a variety of students requiring different instructional strategies and obli- gating teachers to respond to a multitude of student needs, has been around for many years. “One-size-fits-all” teaching methods are no longer effective – prob- ably, they never were. Further, this “diver- sity concept” has been incorporated into the nation’s teacher education programs to the extent that the issue is a commonly held reality.
Thankfully, the acceptance of diverse student populations is no longer a concern. Most teachers recognize the absolute im- portance of teaching ALL students who
show up in their classrooms. Of course, this requires educators to understand the needs of these students and to seek out ways to address the wide range of students’ psychological, physiological, sociological and cultural differences pres- ent in their classrooms.
Providing significant educational experi- ences for a diverse student population might be an insurmountable obstacle for some ill-prepared, unbelieving or inat- tentive teachers. To expect every student to respond successfully to the same set instructional strategies is unrealistic. The successful educator will present a whole host of experiences – and student supports – that will meet the needs of a diverse classroom.
“The successful educator will present a whole host of experiences – and student supports – that will meet the needs of a diverse classroom.”
INVEST. PLAY. CREATE.
Wisconsin music educators are fortunate to have powerful resources readily avail- able to assist them in meeting the needs of the diverse student population in their classrooms. WSMA programs and the associated music education experiences inherent in those programs are as varied and diverse as the students for whom they are designed and complement a well designed and comprehensive music educa- tion curriculum. Almost constant revisions to program offerings, performing experi- ences and literature lists assure teachers and students that these on-going efforts to address Wisconsin’s diverse student population will expand opportunities for more students.
The upcoming Wisconsin State Music Conference provides many opportunities for teachers to discover new and exciting ways to meet the music curriculum needs of a diverse classroom population. Take advantage of those teacher education ses- sions, clinics and presentations and be sure to drop by the WSMA booth for additional information regarding WSMA programs that support significant music educational experiences for all students.
APPLETON | GREEN BAY | OSHKOSH | MADISON | STEVENS POINT
HeidMusic.com
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Jon B. Gilliland, Ed.D., is a lecturer in music education at UW-Milwaukee and has served as music educator in Illinois and Indiana and as the fine arts administrator with the Appleton and Fond du Lac school districts. Email:
jgilliland@wsmamusic.org
September 2018
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