SIB STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Statement of Informed Beliefs Awesome Student Carol Billing EDUC 204 Families, Communities, & Culture M, 5:30-6:45, Fall 2011

SIB Statement of Informed Beliefs While in high school I met a teacher who inspired me daily to better myself, and made me want to be an inspiration to others. She was accepting, generous, courageous, and compassionate. She was everything an educator should be. She is the type of teacher that I aspire to one day be myself. Educators have a challenging job that can be taken for granted by others, but should never be taken for granted by the educator themselves. Being an educator

requires understanding that not every student entering a classroom is the same; each student will vary ethnically, culturally, developmentally, morally, economically, and religiously. Preparing oneself to accept that each student will have different needs require that the educator is willing to adapt, as necessary, to each student in order to offer the best educational experience possible. All Students Can Learn One of the most amazing abilities that a person possesses is the ability to learn. By taking on the role of educating our youth, teachers are given an immense responsibility. It is imperative that as an educator there is a constant awareness of how his/her behaviors can be interpreted by the students and how those behaviors will then affect the children in the classroom. Children at all ages are impressionable, and will at some point model the behaviors of others around them. Therefore, it is important to create a learning environment where the child can observe and learn positive behaviors, and have positive experience that can be taken out of the classroom to later be displayed in the community. Each child within a class room will have a different learning style that the educator must adjust to. Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist, recommends that teachers today must learn to adapt to a possible eight different learning styles (Berns, 2010). Gardner suggests that because of the constant changes in areas such as technology and science, there are also new

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ways of learning and thinking (Berns, 2010). Every student is capable of learning, and it is up to the educator to keep from creating a handicap for a child by not giving him/her the tools needed to be taught. If a teacher is willing to adjust his/her teaching style, as needed, better academic results will take place with more of his/her students. An educator can be responsible for multiple students, during any given day, each with his/her own interests. This is why teachers must work to create an exciting classroom environment that the children will look forward to participating in. It is essential that the educator continue to build on each lesson, bringing new information to the classroom daily. The only way to ensure that children will look forward to attending class is by ensuring that every day something new and interesting is brought into the curriculum. Not every topic will hold the same amount of interest for each student, but if there is one topic a day that a student is excited to go home, tell their family about, and try to learn more about on his/her own time, then the teacher has been successful. Educators must be creative with his/her lesson plans, working to attract the attention of more hungry minds regularly. While leading a class the teacher must work to actively involve all students by making sure each session involves a significant amount of question and answer time. Educators must make it his/her primary goal to seek the involvement of each student. While giving lessons, ask for feedback from the students to ensure that there is active participation, and a solid understanding of the session. Involving each student on a daily basis with various activities, will also give the educator a better perspective of where the student is with his/her understanding of the topics currently being covered. Teachers Expectations

SIB The first, and most important, thing that an educator must consider when setting a

standard or expectation for his/her student, is each students abilities. Goals that are set for each and every student need to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. If a goal set for a child does not fall within these parameters, the risk of failure is more probable. That is way it is so important for educators to take into consideration each students abilities before stating any kind of expectation to the class as a whole. It would be beneficial for an individual discussion to occur, where the educator is able to share with the child what kind of potential the child in question has. Setting goals and achieving them will help to build the self-esteem and confidence of any child. That confidence will then lead the child to set more goals for him/herself. The increase of the childs self-esteem with lead to an increase in his/her achievement motivation. Helping the child to increase his/her knowledge will help the child economically and socially as he/she matures into an adult. Ambition to constantly better ones self, and learn more will open up more job opportunities as well as the opportunity to receive a higher education. Education will help children to develop into a more productive member of society, by teaching them how to contribute more to the growth of their community. Students Social Ecology Theory Urie Brofenbrenner, a development psychologist, has developed a model describing how children are affected by all areas of society (Berns, 2010). Brofenbrenners model has been broken down into four categories where each will at one point in a childs life have some influence (p. 17). Microsystems are a combination of immediate influences such as family, peers, school, and community (p. 19). Mesosystems are the way that the Microsystems are linked together (p. 20). Brofenbrenners social model is something that all educators should take

SIB into consideration in the classroom. Teachers must ensure inclusion is demonstrated in the classroom, so that each child regardless of his/her background and/or living situation has an equal opportunity to succeed in the classroom. Success in the classroom not only depends on the teacher and student, but on the family of the child. As an educator, it is important is include the childs family in activities in and out

of the classroom. To ensure that there is equal participation of the childs family it is imperative that the educator never assume that each child comes from a nuclear family. Each childs parents have different responsibilities that he/she must attend to in additions to his/her children. This is why educators must supply multiple communicate clearly with the childs guardian of opportunities to participate in school activities. Cultural Diversity Instruction During the first week of school the educator should create an activity that will allow each of the children to introduce themselves to not only the instructor, but to his/her peers. During the introductions children should be asked about his/her cultural background. Teacher should notate the different backgrounds of the students to later research to gain a better understanding of the cultural pluralism in the classroom. Once research has been completed, the educator should work to incorporate the different ethnic backgrounds into the lesson plan. For example, during a science lesson, the teacher could include information concerning the background of the scientist who discovered the concept and the county that he/she came from. If there is a child from that same ethnic background in the class, questions can be asked of the student about traditions and/or experiences he/she may have experience such as rituals or traditions. This will help the child to share information about themselves with their peers, while contributing to the lessons of the day and creating a cultural pluralism.

SIB Cultural pluralism is the acceptance of anothers culture, and is found in communities where multiple cultures can live together in harmony. Cultural pluralism can be achieved by

educating the youth in a classroom, about each others backgrounds and differences. Acceptance is more likely to occur if the child understands and is not intimidated or afraid of the differences he/she may have with some of his/her peers. The United States was build from people of all cultural backgrounds, and classrooms today are just as diverse. Society today is full of cultural assimilation, where there is a mixture of different traditions that have been combined from a variety of different cultures. Cultural pluralism could be described as a melting pot just as the classrooms are today. Curriculum for All Learners Delivering lessons to the classroom, in a specific way, will not always work out as planned because of the different cognitive abilities of each student. Educators must always be prepared to adapt his/her teaching technique as needed. To begin with, never plan out a day that is so full that if the need arises for change, the rest of the week will be off track. Leave time open to review and assess the lessons that have already been taught. Work with the students in smaller groups to make sure that the information is being taught is being understood and retained. If the lessons are not being understood by the class, ask for feedback from the students. Was the information not taught in a way that made it easily understood? Or was the information gone over too quickly? Take time to listen to the feedback offered by the students. With feedback that is taken and used productively, an educator can grow and mature with his/her students. It is important to take the productive criticism offered and use it to benefit all parties involved. Remember that choosing to become an educator is for the children, not for

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oneself. Do not take offense to the critique of others given during an assessment; because it will help to strengthen the educator, if it is applied. As stated earlier, standards and goals must be set for each individual. Short term goals will be established to help reach the ultimate, long term goal. These short term goals can be altered during the education process. If and when the short term goals are altered, it will be to benefit the child in helping him/her to better understand the process in question. As an educator, one should never set a goal in stone. All goals should be adjustable based on the need of the student. Keeping this in mind at all times and making the necessary adjustments when necessary will help the child to stay focused and on track. Educators are meant to teach, and if he/she is successful, also inspire children. Achievement will increase if the child is given equal opportunity to grow no matter what kind of background he/she may come from. Educators must not be biased in the classroom, but willing to promote equality and growth. Instructors must never take for granted the incredible opportunity given to them to educator the youth of our country. The responsibility of the educator is enormous, and must be accomplished through the serious consideration of all parties involved. Reflect on the needs of each student equally, believe in the potential of all, and encourage each student put forth the most effort possible.

SIB References Berns, R. M. (2010). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Print.