Artifact Reflection: Standard III Diversity Title: Date:

Ethnic and Gender Equity in Education: Mississippi Trip January 6 January 18, 2012

Description:
The following artifacts are a written reflection from the history teacher, Mrs. OBryant, that I worked with in teaching a lesson on division and democracy in France to an 10th grade World History class and photos from my experience co-teaching Mrs. OBryants World History Class. Twenty-four fellow classmates and I spent a week in Itta Bena, Mississippi, learning about a culture that was different from our own. Part of our learning experience was being exposed to students who were of different ethnicity than our own. The course objective was to gain perspective on what education is like for children and young adults in a poverty stricken setting.

Alignment:
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment: The Ethnic and Gender Equity in Education trip to Mississippi best aligns with Standard 3: Diversity. The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities. These artifacts best align with Standard 3 because they show that I understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and that as an educator, it is my responsibility to meet the diverse needs of my students. I learned the different approaches students in the Leflore County High School take to their education by spending two full days at the high school. As a teacher candidate, I have been required to take an ethnic and gender class related to education. At UW Platteville, there is an option to take the ethnic /gender equity in education class as a winterim. This winterim option includes getting a hands-on experience of what life is like in the Mississippi Delta by taking a 10 day trip to Itta Bena, MS. Co-teaching a class for a full class period was one of the best experiences I had in my preparation for a career in education up to that point. The class was a sophomore world history class of roughly 25 students. It was nerve-racking at first, but once I began talking and interacting with the students for their lesson, I felt right at home.

I am more competent now in this standard because, throughout my time in Mississippi, I was placed in situations that I had to adapt to different ways of life other than my own in order to understand a new culture and new people. I also became more aware of how crucial it is to incorporate diverse learners into my planning when I create lessons. Because of this experience, I believe that I am able to effectively adapt my instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.

UW Platteville Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Alignment

Photographs of my experience teaching Mrs. OBryants classroom and my reflection sheet best aligns with KSD II. B: Establishing a Culture for Learning The candidate can create a classroom environment that establishes and maintains high expectations for all students to value content of course work, take pride in work by initiating improvements, and help peers. Teaching Mrs. OBryants sophomore world history class best aligns with this KSD because, although my experience was brief, it was extremely beneficial. My experience taught me how to manage and create high expectations for a classroom of diverse learners. Because Mrs. OBryant had such high expectations for her students, her standards of learning were instilled in me; I need to have high expectations of my students so that they can get the most out of their education. I am more competent after this experience because I am aware of how important it is to create a classroom environment for diverse learners in which there are set expectations. I also learned how to enforce classroom expectations through positive reinforcement and goal setting. Secondary Alignment: KSD I B: Demonstrates Knowledge of Students. KSD III C: Engages Students in Learning.

Reflection:
What I learned about teaching/learning from this experience From this experience I learned a variety of things about diversity in the classroom and setting expectations for students. I learned how to create lessons that aligned with classroom standards for students of different ethnic backgrounds, knowledge that will be very beneficial when I have my own classroom of diverse learners. I know that all of my students will be different in one way or another and this experience helped prepare me for such situations.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience is that diversity comes in many different forms, and I must be ready to take on every type of diversity that I am faced with. I learned that each student does not learn at the same pace and that patience is the key to teaching a classroom of diverse learners. I also learned that race will be another factor I will have to consider in my classroom and that there will be diversity not only among my students but also among myself and my students.