The piece, "Accommodating Student Learning Styles," was very interesting. It was a very honest piece. I agree that free-writing on any topic that appeals to the student is a great way to get him/her to write and get engaged in the writing. I also agree one-on-one meetings are great. Like the piece says it can show the student that the teacher cares as well as being able to intervene at each stage.
Many students don't like group work. According to Gregorc, that is the Concrete Sequential Learner. The Abstract Sequential Learner doesn't benefit from group work since they are supposed to be natural born writers (whatever that means). As a teacher, how do we know what our students are in Gregorc's classification?
Gardner and Myers-Briggs have their own classifications of people. In the classroom, the teacher barely has the time to do what he/she wants to accomplish, let alone try to cater to each student's needs. I'm sure teachers know the strengths and weaknesses of their students even if it doesn't fall into a specific Gregorc, Gardner or Myer-Briggs category.
The challenge comes in teaching a heterogeneous class in a heterogeneous and homogeneous way when it is one class. The classroom is not a place that necessarily facilitates individual instruction, nor should it. This is why the one-on-one student/teacher meetings are so important. However, there never seems to be enough time to spend with each student.
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