There are some basic guiding principles of classroom practice that I subscribe to: individualization, interaction and integration.

1. First of all, we teach not classes but an individual. According to the differentiated instruction, each student learns differently. Ss come from different backgrounds with very different needs. They construct a mosaic of diversity - academically, culturally, economically, socially, linguistically. Each has a set of values and a different way of being in the world. Moreover, they bring their own set of goals into the classroom. So, my goal is to design classroom experiences that facilitate each student's learning and equip him/her with strategies that he/she will operate in a bigger world. 

2. Without interaction among students and a teacher, the potential of the classroom as a learning setting is lost. It's communication between the more experienced and less experienced. But it's not about that the teacher whose experience and knowledge counts, it's about that every individual brings experience and perspective and whatever he or she contributes to the learning process is beneficial for both. The teacher learns to some extent from her/his Ss and Ss mesh their experience with the teacher's knowledge.

3. Diversity is a powerful teacher. Ss learn better from those who differ from themselves. That's why I believe that most Ss learn best in heterogeneous groups. It's integration Ss' life experience and school learning. Also, Ss need to be integrated with the world outside the classroom. That's where we resort to Internet technologies and e-pals communication. If we start teaching our Ss to integrate with the world, we will bring into the classroom much real-world material to use for learning practice. For example, www.poetryarchive.com has a variety of genres wriiten by different students around the globe. Nothing imroves Ss writing faster than having genuine readers somewhere in the world who want to know what other Ss can tell them.

Dear colleagues, what are your basic guiding principles of classroom practice?