The purpose of this paper is to explore human development in education by analyzing its importance to the classroom, and problems that can occur when teachersÆ fail to understand human development in their classes. The paper also discusses teacher behaviors that promote students' thinking abilities and behaviors, helping them to achieve optimal academic success as well as promote their social and emotional well-being. The final section of the paper examines diversity and equity focusing on those classroom practices and materials that promote diversity and equity in the classroom
Importance of Development in the Classroom
Understanding child development and young studentsÆ needs is critical in any classroom. As noted by Rice (2000), the study of human development has given educators a wide variety of learning models, e.g., behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and social-cognitive models, each with its own unique (although sometimes overlapping) assumptions about the nature of human learning and what constitutes appropriate principles of instruction for students at various ages.
As pointed out by Abbeduto and Elliott (1997), understanding human development helps teachers understand how students think and learn and informs them as to the kinds of material students are capable of learning and not learning at any given age. Knowing about human development also helps teachers to understand what obstacles are going to arise at given ages as students study and attempt to acquire information.
Further, Abbeduto and Elliott (1997) state that an understanding of human development will help teachers better understand how students relate to them and to their fellow classmates. In addition, understanding human development is said to give teachers insight into studentsÆ personal concerns regarding classroom activities, events, and interactions. Moreover, knowing about human development assists teachers in understanding both student d...