accommodating individual differences; how to

[mgraff]

Greetings everyone, I'm teaching ESL part-time to adults and I interview for the occasional community college position. In CA, the competition is so stiff I've written off the place and I'm looking for work elsewhere.

However, the one question that comes up in interviews is, "How do you accommodate individual differences in your classroom?"
Can anyone recommend a book or a journal article that addresses the question? I feel kind of evasive when I say "I've got handouts" or words to that effect. My lesson plans have a specific set of requirements and adjusting the lesson plan to suit the faster or slower learners doesn't do much for the entire class.

Worst of all is watching an administrator sit back with a smug look on his/her face after he asks the question.

[curmudgeon]

This might be helpful:

BBC | British Council teaching English - Methodology - Teaching mixed ability classes

[mykwyner]

I don't know if I have the best answer here, but what I do is teach to the middle and do the best I can with the rest. It is the only practical choice.

The administrators are smug because there is no definitive answer to this question. They want to know whether you understand the reality of the situation, or are you just going to give them some education-school pedagogababble that you think they want to hear.

Doctors and lawyers can't deliver a positive outcome for each of their clients. What makes you think that teachers can?

[mgraff]

Thank you for the tips. I'll be researching this topic and writing the answer(s) to this question. This is post-graduation graduate study (it never ends).