Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Sidnie Larson
College of Southern Idaho
Evin Fox
EDUC 204: Families, Communities, and Cultures
Spring 2016

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Introduction
We need to reassure our children that they are safe in their home and schools- while there are
some bad people in the world, there are more good people Laura Bush (Berns, 2013).
Being a teacher has a direct influence on the statement above. Choosing to be the good in
the world and choosing to be that example for students who walk through your classroom every
day is an even bigger impact than anyone could ever imagine. Along with that there are four
different things that a teacher has to be aware of. These four things are what my paper will be on.
They are: the students ability to learn, students social ecology theory, cultural diversity
instruction, and the creation of curriculum for all learners. These are all very important in the
world of education and are guidelines to follow. Though many people have different opinions
and beliefs on how each one of these subjects should be viewed, there is common ground to
each: the belief and strong conviction that each child has the right to a fair and empowering
education. This paper is to demonstrate my belief towards and knowledge of the diversity of a
students life in school. It is also to establish my plans for being able to deliver and assess proper
curriculum that will be presented to future students.
Students Ability to Learn
Teachers have a responsibility to help students obtain and accomplish knowledge of
information. Having the ability to create a warm and nurturing environment to a child can
ultimately change the experience that a child will have throughout his/her life where learning and
obtaining knowledge is most important. As said in the textbook assigned in this class: the Best
teachers make students want to learn and reinforce their efforts, while the worst teachers turn
students off (Berns, 2013). The only way to show a child how he or she should behave, act,

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

learn, develop, etc. is to be an example. Though good or bad, a child watches the example shown
around them. In comparison of a bad or a good teacher one might say that bad would be
belittling and a good one shows interest/wants students to succeed. The influence and example
of a teacher can effect a student for his/her whole life. Another way a teacher has an effect on a
student is the way in which material is presented and how the needed material is taught.
A teachers perception on how to teach and relay information is also very important to a
students ability to learn as well. In order for a teacher to teach, he/she needs to be able to
understand the students. There are many factors that play into a students learning pathway.
Examples from the book are: Maturation, attentiveness, past experiences, and emotions (Berns,
2013).These all influence how a student perceives many things in life. A teacher must
accommodate to each individual childs different perceptive learning styles. The goal as is to
understand the differing approaches that a student will have in his/her learning process, as well
as have the ability to adapt to the needs of each student and create the instruction needed to meet
those requirements. By creating smaller goals this is easier to approach.
Setting goals in education is vital to the heart of learning. Goals incorporate the very
essence of education itself. Without goals there is essentially nowhere to set the bar for growth.
Teachers can encourage children to explore, to satisfy their natural curiosity, and to love
learning (Berns, 2013, p. 240).With goal setting, each of these things can be elevated and
promote the growth needed. Goal structures are important to implement in the classroom. The
reason being that students can learn not just how important individual goals are to accomplish
but also how group goals are important. Group goals help students to realize the success of
others is just as important as their own success. Having a goal structure promotes and prepares
students for an increase in collaborative workforce (Berns, 2013).

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Students Social Ecology

In all teaching there is a lot of controversy in the field of social ecology and the effect it
has on learning. The connection is often compared because of the attention given to social status
and the education level of those in higher or lower classes. The effect social ecology have on the
learning processes through family, community, and culture truly have so much to do with the
way a child learns, develops, and grows.
School and family involvement is a huge part of successful social children. When school
and family work together to help push kids to their potential, it creates an environment of success
that is hard to beat. This process has to begin with the family and is extended into school. That is
why it is so important that the school and family work together. As cited in Berns (2013), Epstein
and Sheldon did a study stating that when school and family work together to support learning,
children tend to succeed in school and afterward. This statement promotes more school
achievement by using these skills. Children from a lower status or from a culturally diverse home
are then enabled to gain and become that of higher end status group. Community also plays
another large part in the learning process.
Community is a huge resource for the school, which in turn is huge for its students. With
the community playing a big part in providing funds for the school and setting up school
boundaries. This affects a lot of factors such as the socioeconomic composition of a school. The
reason being is because of the set size of a school, which then influences the boundaries for the
activities within. The impact of student learning is dependent on some of the decisions made.
The culture of children in school is so diverse. Teachers should be aware of the values,
communication styles, as well as being able to see behavioral activity related to different cultures
in the classroom. Which then leads to the next subject of this paper.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Cultural Diversity Instruction

In todays world we see a lot of different cultures in the school system. That is where
cultural assimilation and pluralism come into play. As a teacher it is hard to decipher which one
should be integrated into the classroom. The difference between assimilation and pluralism is
that assimilation merges values and beliefs of the cultures involved, when pluralism believes in
keeping culture in the original form: distinct. Both have their pros and cons. The only problem
with having one or the other is running into the confliction of one's beliefs. As a teacher, there
needs to be incorporation and balance of the student cultural background that helps build student
knowledge, the incorporation of knowledge of other parts of varied life history, and expounding
on the learning experiences of each students ethnic backgrounds in the classroom.
Curriculum for all Learners
As teachers we are to create an environment that sees all perspectives and guides students
to where they can decision make for themselves. As a teacher it is our responsibility to research
and reflect on our work as a whole and design curriculum to benefit the students in their
everyday life. Choosing this field of work was exactly that, A CHOICE, and we are obligated to
do just what we signed up for, which is empowering and encouraging those to be the best person
they can be. Curriculum is needed in a classroom to get anywhere. We are expected to be able to
make adjustments in planning, deliver subject matter in way the student can understand, and
perform assessments of student learning. A student assessment can be done at the beginning of
the year to start the process. Teachers usually receive data about students at the beginning of the
school year (test scores, past grades, family and health information, and comments by previous
teachers), which influence their expectations of students for achievement and behavior (Berns,
2013 p. 250). This will help to plan and create the curriculum needed in the first month of school

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

and make adjustments needed along the way if learning improves, steadies, or worsens. To
ensure a student learns, it is required that we know different learning styles. Children have
different ways they learn best, and teachers have different ways they teach best (Berns, 2013, p.
253). Finding the way a child learns best is the greatest way to ensure learning.
Conclusion
Its hard to imagine a world without the wonderful example of a teacher. I had so many
teachers who made me who I am today because of who they were and the great educator they
made themselves out to be. Without the help of all these wonderful examples, I would be in the
place I am today, doing the things I am doing. In order to become an example to someone else
(what these teachers where to me), I must go above and beyond the statements made above. I
know just as students learn, teachers do to. I know that I will learn along the way things that will
be beneficial to my growth and knowledge of a being a teacher. Students ability to learn, social
ecology, cultural diversity, and curriculum are all things that need to be understood as a teacher
and should be constantly under review. Life is full of learning and growth, I am glad I get to be a
part of not just my own, but others as well.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

7
References

Berns, R. (2013). Child, family, school, community: Socialization and support (9th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.