The document summarizes a student's observation of individual differences among students in a classroom. The student observed that some students performed well and participated actively, mostly girls seated at the front, while others seemed left behind and were quiet, mostly seated at the back. The teacher confirmed differences in students' backgrounds. The student reflected on their own experience with high and low achievers in school and how their teacher grouped students and called on the intelligent students, sometimes tutoring the low achievers. The student concluded they will need to meet the needs of all students by using appropriate techniques and encouraging sharing of ideas to recognize individual differences.

1. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
FS 1 The Learner’s Development
and Environment
Episode 5
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND LEARNER’S INTERACTION
( focusing on different levels of abilities)
Name of FS Student: Ruschelle L. Cossid
Course: BSED - ENGLISH Year & Section: 1st Year
Resource Teacher: Mrs. Rowena Magdayao Date: February 24, 2014
Cooperating School: Digos City National High School
 My Maps
To reach your target, do the following tasks:
1. Observe two or more learners of the different abilities but from the same grade
or year level.
2. Find out some information about their background.
3. Observe them as they participate in a classroom activity,
4. Write a narrative report and a brief reflection on your experience.

2. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
 My Tools
Use the activity form provided for you to document your observations.
An Observation Guide for Individual Differences
Read the following carefully before you begin to observe. Then write your
observation report on the space provided.
1. Observe the class to see the differences in abilities of the learners.
2. Try to identify the students who seem to be performing well and those that seem
to be behind.
3. Validate your observations by asking the teacher about the background (family,
socio-economic, presence of some learning disability, etc.) of these children.
4. Observe the behavior of both the high achieving and low achieving learners.
Note their dispositions, pace in accomplishing tasks, interaction with teacher, and
interaction with others.
5. Observe the teacher’s method in addressing the individual learning needs of the
students in his/her class.
Observation Notes:
 Performing well – commonly girls at the front
Seem to be left behind – commonly students who are seated at the back
 High Achieving Students – actively participates during discussions and
gets high scores in quizzes.
Low Achieving Students – they’re just quite in their seats and depends on
their leaders when they are grouped, however they’re trying to cope with
the lessons.
 Method of the Teacher – She’s encouraging everyone to participate and
raise their hands especially to those low achievers in the class.

3. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
OBSERVATION REPORT
Name of the School Observed Digos City National High School
School Address Rizal Avenue, Digos City
Date of Visit February 24, 2014
As I observed the class of IV- Aquino, I observed that diversity is present in the
classroom. There are really differences in the students in terms of their cultural
backgrounds, on how they interact, their cognitive capabilities, etc. The students who
seem to be performing well are those students at the front especially the girls. Those
students who are always behind the discussions are just quite in their seat. When I ask
the teacher about their different backgrounds, she say that students are all different in
their own way. They differ in what family they belong (rich, average, poor), their way in
socializing with others, their skills and capabilities and their strengths and weaknesses.
The high and low achievers are different. The high achievers are active in the class,
participate very well, finishes a task faster, loves to interact with the teacher and also
they love to socialized with others. On the other hand, the low achievers sometimes
participate in the class, they take time to do a certain task and sometimes they just
depend on their leader when they are grouped. They seem bored sometimes while
listening to their teacher. They are shy and afraid sometimes to talk with their teachers.
As I observed the teacher in dealing on the different individual learning needs of the
students, I can see that she’s doing great because she s applying methods which helps
to address the learning of the students. She knows how to impart knowledge in a way
that her students will really learn and she also know that student’s different
backgrounds is one of the factors to be considered in the teaching-learning process.

4. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
 My Analysis
1. Did your observation match the information given by the teacher? Were you able
to correctly identify who among the students performed well and who did not?
What behavior helped you identify them? (volunteering to answer, responding to
teacher’s directions, etc.)
Yes, some of my information matches the information given to me by the
teacher. I was able to correctly identify who among the students who performed
well and those who are not and it is obvious to identify them anyway because you
can see it by how the student participates in the class, how he/she socialized or what
scores did he/she gets from quizzes, oral recitation, etc. The students who are
performing well are participative and active while those who didn’t are just quiet and
they are shy.
2. Describe the differences in ability levels of the students in the class. Is there a
wide gap between the students who are performing well and those who are not?
The gap between the students who are performing well and those who are not is
sot so far because even though the low achievers sometimes can’t cope with their
lessons, they are trying to understand and ope with their lessons and I can see that
eagerness to learn in their faces. The ability levels of the high achievers are quite
different from the low achievers based on how they perform in the class.
3. Describe the methods used by the teacher in handling the student’s differences
in abilities. How did the students respond to the teacher?
The method that the teacher used in handling the students differences in abilities
is by assessing those low achievers to cope with their lessons. She want that
everyone must participate and be active in the class especially to the low achievers.
The teacher also applies method and techniques that she knows that will be effective
or fits the capabilities of her students and also in order for the students to respond
productively to the teacher and as what I see, the students follow their teacher and
they’re trying to cooperate and participate so I can say that they’re all doing well.

5. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
 My Reflections
1. Recall the time when you were in the elementary or high school level. Recall the
high and low achievers in your class. How did your teacher deal with differences
in abilities? Was your teacher effective?
Way back during my high school years, when I’m in my third and fourth year, I
have the same classmates. I can recognize those who are high achievers and low
achievers. Most of the high achievers are girls and the low achievers are boys. When
there is groupings in the class, our teacher will assign those high achievers in every
group so that those who are low achievers can cope with the lessons and it is also
fair because the students group is balanced (high and low achievers are grouped
together), Every time when the problem is hard, she will just call those intelligent
students to answer while those low achievers will just sit on their seats doing
nothing. However, there are also times that those slow learners will be tutored by
those intelligent students. This method is sometimes kind of effective because I can
see that the slow learners are doing well in answering the topics. I can also say that
our teacher is effective because she is trying her best in dealing differences in
abilities.
 My Portfolio
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 ther needs of both
the high and low achievers in your class?
As a future educator, in order to meet the needs of the both the high and low
achievers in my class, I will use some methods and strategies that I know will be effective
and will have a good result/outcome. I must put first in my mind that diversity is always
present in the classroom and with that I will expect that all of the students have
individual differences. They can be different in their backgrounds, religion, racial groups,
culture, capabilities and cognitive levels. I will use some techniques in teaching that I’
sure it is appropriate in their cognitive level. I will let them share their ideas and

6. FS 1 The Learner’s Development and Environment
thoughts so they will know more each other and I will convince those low achievers to
interact well in the class because I know that they also have their own ideas and
thoughts that they want to share. I know it because we have all individual differences in
everything.