The teacher is of course an artist, but being an artist does not mean that he or she can make the profile, can shape the students. What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.
– Paolo Friere, 1921-1997, Brazilian Educator and Philosopher

“Much of what we do in early childhood classrooms naturally lends itself to individualizing learning, like allowing children to choose which interest area to play in and how to play in it, deciding how they participate in large-group meetings, and how they use art materials to create,” writes Clarissa Martínez on The Teaching Strategies for Early Childhood Education blog.

The blog features five ways you can individualize learning and address the wide range of skills and abilities children demonstrate throughout the day.

1. Offer choices. Encourage children to participate and explore in the way they prefer.
2. Plan for possibilities. Think about how you can adjust the activity in the moment for children who need more time, more support, or experience with concrete materials to understand the concept.
3. Empower children to document their learning. Talk to children about how and why you take notes, photos, or videos of their work. Invite children to share what they would like to include in their digital portfolio.
4. Encourage community support. Celebrate each child’s expertise and encourage them to support children who could benefit from their help.
5. Provide a variety of learning materials. In your physical classroom, evaluate the materials in each interest area. Are there puzzles for children with different ability levels? Books about topics that interest the children in a variety of reading levels?