Instructional Strategies

Individualized Instruction

Fine arts classes include students with a wide range of knowledge and skill levels, especially at beginning levels. Students may exceed or fall short of a course’s general student expectations for a number of reasons, such as experiences outside of school or being new to a school’s program. The combination of different experience levels and diverse learning styles makes individualizing instruction an important teaching strategy for fine arts teachers.

Here are a few ideas on individualizing instruction in theatre:

• Individualize instruction so that students progress through the curriculum at their own pace.
• Consider diverse student needs in the design of teaching strategies and curricula. Allow advanced students to move ahead while others work on the basics.
• Explain a lesson or demonstrate a technique to small groups of students at a time.
• Use a variety of strategies to engage different learners, including contracts for independent learning, learning centers, and computer-aided instruction.