http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov99/vol57/num03/The-Courage-to-Be-Constructivist.aspx

The article listed above discusses the challenges of utilizing constructivism in the classroom. While constructivism does make its way into the curriculum, standards, and lesson activities, it is not exactly easy. Constructivists would argue that we are active participants in creating the reality that we live in. For example, our beliefs and ideas that surround our daily experiences have a crucial shape on the way that we see the world. 

This idea makes it extremely important that teachers utilize teaching approaches that fit the mold of each individual student. This goes against the traditional concept that all learners will learn the same exact idea at the same time during the school year. That is how most curriculum is set up in the classroom, same goal but different ways of getting there. What if we looked at education differently and had students learning different ideas within the same classroom. Does this already occur? Would this vehemently change our schools?

The article states that, "constructivist educational practice cannot be realized without the classroom teachers autonomous, ongoing, professional judgment." I believe that all teachers agree that adapting the lesson plans and allowing room for flexibility is extremely important. If teachers were given more freedom and less external pressure (i.e. state/national assessments) this might be more possible. The major barrier to achieving this goal is state tests, which inevitably take over the curriculum and assume that students learn all at the same pace/level. How can these competing ideas work alongside one another?