Physical Differences

• There is often a wide range of physical sizes in classes. This is especially obvious in middle school when some of the students reach puberty at an earlier or later age than the norm. Girls develop earlier than boys, leading to a heightened awareness of the opposite sex and a distraction to learning. A student who towers over his classmates or who is dwarfed by them may be teased or ostracized and develop low self-esteem. Student with physical disabilities may require special accommodations and supports.
  
  

Cultural Differences

• Some students may be newly arrived immigrants who have not yet acquired English. Others may have been born here but have parents who are very traditional and who still do not understand the cultural norms of this country. Young children who have not yet developed social structures with peers or who have not been exposed to media are more likely to lack the background necessary for some of the material being taught. Not all of them will have exposure to televisions or English newspapers at home. Some will have uncommon religious beliefs.
  
  

Socio-Economic Differences

• Depending upon the geographic location of a school, there might be much diversity in the economic situations at home. Some students may come from middle-class homes where both parents are highly educated professionals, while others are being raised by families suffering from unemployment and serious financial hardship. Some come to school very well dressed, while others may wear hand-me-downs. Middle school students are more likely to be aware of this difference between the "haves" and "have-nots" than younger students in the primary grades.
  
  

Diverse Talents

• Unlike high school where students are more likely to be streamed according to their abilities, most elementary students work toward the same curriculum objectives. Some students will have learning disabilities. One student might excel in math, but have serious problems with spelling, or vice versa. The student with athletic prowess or musical talent may have difficulty reading. Some schools integrate their special education students into regular classrooms, resulting in a wide range of intelligence levels in the same class.