It as been a wonderful experience. So long!!!

The semester is winding down and this class is done. I have learn so much in this course. I 've learned a lot about myself also. In this course I learned the different challenges new educators will face and how to overcome them. I have learned that there are many different learning styles for children and technique in which teacher can use to best educate the students. I have found a passion for wanting to help African-American inner city children. I also have been enlightened from my classmates on the serious issue of Bullying in schools. I learned that a teacher should be opened minded and willing to check bias that may hinder their perception of students. I have been taught the purpose and meaningfulness in having public education. I learned the may different teaching model and philosophy and I learn that today's classrooms are becoming very diverse. We as educators have to be aware and prepared to learn different cultures and adapt classroom instruction to fit the environment. I also learn the rights of students, teachers and parents. I also learned that School officials/local government and sometimes parents choose curriculum. Teachers have the authority to choose topic matter on subjects and teach it to fit the class climate. I also learn that different counties around the world have different educational system. So are as  good as or better than ours and we should be willing to adapt whatever ways make our system better.  School is the foundation for academic achievement and social development. The schools, communities and parent should all work together to make sure the children of today are not being slighted. So long for now........

Why not and an indigenous approach to learning!

http://diverseeducation.com/article/11850/Gregory Cajete a Native American Scholar who avocates  for Native Science and an indigenous approach to
 learning in elementary and secondary schools in America. His philosophy is geared towards incorporating Natural science and math in school curriculum. He finds the importants of educating today's children to have a well rounded school experience being taught the importance of community,cultural and the environment. Why not embrace his philosophy of education. Since America is so filled with rich history of native americans why not incorporate thier voice and history in our school system. We should embrace and welcome this form or learning and teaching in our educational system. There is a lot to be learned by knowing the ways of the indigenous people.

Is the Zero Tolerance policy in Schools working?

 

http://www.defendernetwork.com/zero-tolerance-discipline-policies/
It is true that some of the nations public schools have become violent and dangerous for both students and teachers. In the inner cities there has been issues with school shootings and stabbings.drug use and the like. In rural schools there are reported incidents with bullying and drug use and the like. Teachers are not exempt from the violence that students face. They are threatened, harrassed and beaten by students also. So what was a school to do. There is now a Zero Tolerance policy that is suppose to place harsh punishment to students that violate the security and safety of the school, students and teachers. The policy is in place in all schools. It has pros and cons. The pros say that this policy deals with the violator expeditiously and makes students and faculty safe in a learning environment. The cons argue that the policy is racially bias that some student populations are being targeted at a greater rate. African Americans and Hispanics are being suspended, expelled and even having criminal charges brought against them at alarming rates. According to and article read a teacher spoke of incidents in which children were disciplined for non criminal offenses. All these  students were of color. One incident was a student who was expelled for a week for poking another student with a pen during an exam. Another incident was a student was suspended for months for sharpening his pencil without permission and giving a threatening look at the teacher when asked to sit down. These are bogus incidents but the reality is that many students of color being targeted with this Zero Tolerance policy. There needs to be reform. There needs to be more investigations into schools or cities that are having a large percentage of expulsions and suspensions. The statistics show that students that are expelled usually end up dropouts. This should not be allowed to happen to such kids the need to be educated as much as they need food and water to live. Lets make this policy fair or lets revamp it and try something else that works for everyone.

Social Justice-Should Teachers address the issue of Poverty in Schools?

If school is a place will students obtain knowledge to help them become well informed and educated individuals than would that include teaching social issues too? Poverty in society is a reality. It effects can be devastating. According to Money.CNN.com the nations poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1%. The alarming face is that 22% were poverty for children. With that fact it is obvious that school aged children are going to public schools with lack. How does a teacher combat that issue. Should a teacher combat that issue? It is said that if a child goes hungry he lacks the ability to learn at his ful1 potential.  If a child is living in poverty then some needs are not being meet. food is one of those needs. Although there are Federal programs such as the SNAP, Free Lunch and Wic,many families are still at a disadvantage. Many families today do not fit into the mold of qualifying for those services. The reality is that many families are just one paycheck away from being in the poverty level. So what happens to the children that are sent to the public schools? Should teachers get involved? Should the school get involved.  Social Justice is just what it states. Teachers should get involved with social issues that effect their students. If a child is not performing to its potential because of outside issues then a teacher should be the advocated to aid in services and awareness. How do you bring that to a classroom. In literature I read I saw that some curriculum do include the topic of poverty and hunger. This is a subject taught in class. I believe this can bring awareness to students and aid in giving students that are a product of this a feeling of hope. There are also ways in which the teacher can identify students that may perhaps be in need of clothes, food or shelter and referring them to social organizations that can provide the needs. There can also be class project like food drives and clothing drives. All this can bring awareness of the issue of poverty and combat it with the aid of students.  Some may argue that a teachers job should be to education the student not engaging in social issue. Some may thing that a teacher is projecting is own agenda and forcing it down the throats of the students. This may be true for some but with the statistic as it is it really needs to be address for the betterment of the students that are effected by it as a whole. Should teacher address poverty in public school? Yes they should with ethics and selflessness.
Http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/news/economy/povery_rate_income/index.htm
https://learning.unmassonline.net/webct/urw/lc140823001551261/select

Social Reconstructionism, Can this work in schools today?

http://www.examiner.com/public-school-teacher-in-washington-dc/social-reconstructionism

Social Reconstuctionism is a modern philosophie that is influenced by western Education. It makes people accountable for change in society. So should this philosopy be used in our schools? Should Students be aware of the ills or society? should they be taught how to change problems as a whole? I believe Students should be made aware of societal issues. These subjects should be discussed in schools. Students should have a say in the world in which they live. The use of this such style of thinking in schools would bring about inquiry in students. There would be more stimulating thinking. I think Social Reconstructionalism would work in schools today and is very much needed. Students should be prepared how to fight for causes and stand up for injustices and the like. Young minds can do wonders to societal problems. An example how this approached was used in schools comes for a Baltimore Algebra Project. The class staged a walkout and blocked traffic by drawing pictures of dead bodies in the street while chanting "no education, no life". Then the students took pictures or their deplorable school and used them to send to lawmakers and politicians. This is a great example of how social reconstruction can be used in school to advocate change in society. More projects like this needs to come from the students.

Education is like a jigsaw puzzle.

Education is like a jigsaw puzzle every piece is necessary and important. In educating a child there are many parts that goes into this. A child has to have teachers that want to teach, There needs to be an inviting classroom setting. There needs to be tools for the student to use to learn. There needs to be diversity and understanding of ones ethnic and cultural needs. There has to be a curriculum that is taught the way in which a child is able to understand and grasp. There needs to be respect and rules for children to follow. There needs to be different settings for learning. There needs to unbiased on the parts of teachers and administration. Children need to feel safe and secure. Teachers need to make learning fun, exciting and attainable. These are the peices to a puzzle and when all the pieces are molded together the out come is excellence.

Is Inclusion in Schools working?

http://www.learningrx.com/

http://www.4children.org/isssues/2003/january_february/special_needs_mainstram_classrooms

Inclusion of kids in Special Education started off being a great plan for students with special needs to be in regular classrooms. It evolved as a part of the Education Act in 1993 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act in 2001. Research has showned that in today's classrooms teachers and students are not benefiting as much as it was originally planned. It is true that there are a wide spectrum of disabilities students in Special Education have and each disability calls for special attention with well educated and skilled Professionals. I believe that not all children benefit from being included in regular classrooms. I believe some children need the one on one attention and detailed instruction from their teachers in separated classrooms. If children that need that type of care are mainstreamed it tends to take away from the majority of kids that have mild or no learning issues. Students with special needs it can overwhelm the teachers and it is expensive to facilitate the staffing needed to handle each individual child's needs. I do understand the need to want to make all kids feel accepted and liked by their peers. I do understand that Inclusion tries not to stigmatize and label kids in Special education classes however in reality it's no secret that some kids require more assistance and aid than others. Kids in elementary schools don't really have issues with peer pressure and acceptance as do most middle and high school students. I believe that if separate classes are needed to help kids gain the needed skill and learning tools to receive knowledge then that is what should be used. I do believe special consideration needs to address thoroughly before kids with mild disabilities such as academic or mild behavior issues are placed into the Special Education program.  Inclusion has seems to be a great idea on paper but does it really help the student? Does it really make a child feel included. In my opinion it does not.

4 Approaches to Multicultural Education

http://www.intime.uni.edu/multiculture/curriculum/approachs.htm

McNergney, Robert F. Education: the Practice and Profession of Teaching. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/ Merrill, 2009. Print.

 

Schools today are trying to promote diversity amongst students and teachers. They are trying to make classrooms learning facilities to welcome the contributions of each culture represented there. One way that this is address is by using the 4 approaches to Multicultural education. The Contributions Approaches uses the least amount of involvement. It does not change the curriculum at all. It does use books with cultural/ethnic subject matter, it does celebrate holidays such as Martin Luther King and special events such as a Multicultural food day. The Additive Approach is added to the curriculum but does not change its basic structure. In this approach content, concepts, themes, and perspectives are added to the curriculum without changing its basic structure.The Transformation Approach changes the curriculum. It allow all students to see concepts, issues, themes, and problems from several ethnic perspectives and points of view. The Social Action Approach is the Transformation approach put to action. I feel the last 2 approaches are really needed and desired  from students. If a student is able to learn about other cultural contributions and it own then there may be a higher self-esteem and expectations There needs to be reform in today curriculum in schools. What do you think about Multiculturalism? Is it attainable?  Multicultural approaches to education sounds just fine to me.

Labeling??

 

http://www,edycatuib,cin/refernce/article/advantages-disadvantages-labeling

http://www.multculturalfamilia.com/2011/06/13/at-risk-in-school-what does it mean/

Is labeling students in elementary really necessary? Is there an advantage to such tags? It seems that what started out as a great idea to combat the problems that students face in school as now gone sour. Too many kids are being targeted as being a potential problem before they even get a chance to develop and grow as a student. A student who fits one or more of these criteria are label "At Risk". If a student has at least one disability, been retained in a grade at least once, speaks English poorly,comes from a single parent home,parents are immigrants, is poor according to poverty limits or parents/parent is unemployed. This is supposed to be the criteria regardless of race or socioeconomic status however why is it that in urban schools the only students you see in these programs in large numbers are minorities. How is it that a child can be put in such a category that follow him or her for the rest of his school years solely on outside influences that may or may not effect his academic performance An excerpt from the book, Tyrell, by Coe Booth, a 15  year old minority high school drop out states:"Starting in first grade, them teachers took one look at me and stated putting me in programs for at-risk kids, then at risk boys, then at risk teenagers, Personally, I ain't never knew what the F***I was s'posed to be at risk of except growing up black, but ain't no program I know of gonna change that." how powerful a statement is that. It speaks volume. How many kids will feel this way because of being label "at risk" and being placed in special programs? There needs to be reform. Teachers need to see children as individuals and not have preconceived notions because of where a kid comes from or how a kid behaves. There are some that my argue that labels are necessary to get federal funding for programs. Others may argue that labeling brings public awareness to problems facing today's students. This all may have weight but it seems in public urban schools labeling is just modern day segregation and racism.

Why Teach

http://www.terry.uga.edu/~dawndba/4500FailingBlkBoys.html

Canestrari, Alan S., and Bruce A. Marlowe. "Why Teach." Educational Foundations: an Anthology of Critical Readings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2010. 27-28

 

Why is teaching important to me? There are a lot of reason's I believe people want to become teachers. I comment the few that choose to go into this field. There is a need for devoted, unbias skilled teachers in the urban areas. Too many of inner city youth are fail and falling behind in school. The drop out rate is getting higher in High school. Why is that? I want to teach to help close the margins for inner city youth. My special interest is African-American males. In articles and stories I have read it seems there is a big problem of how young boys are taught in elementary school. Most of the teacher's today that work in the inner city schools are have no clue on the cultural differences of African- American kids. They are not equipped with the background to really understand what it takes to teach a kid from that Environment. How can you teach all kids to read one way when they all don't learn the same way. There needs to be more training on the part of teachers that teach inner city kids. There needs to be more effort and time spent learning how to reach each kid at thier cultural level. I want to teach because I want to be that beacon of hope for these kids. I want to see positive articles on the success in spite of social and economic challenges of these kids. I want to teach because I believe in kids and I believe kids have a lot to offer this society. They just need help starting off the ground. The article I have referenced is one that speaks volume to the reality that African- American boy are being failed by schools. I don't want this to continue and I want to be apart of change that I believe will happen.

Hello There!

This Blogging is very new to me. I am very excited to be taking this class so I can prepare for my new career change into the Education field. A little about myself. I am a seasoned student-- 46years young to be exact I am a wife, mother of 2 adult daughter's living on there own, and a grandmother to a very handsome 5year old boy. I work full-time and am taking 3 classes at Salem State University.  I am a transfer student after receiving my Associates degree this past June. I am majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Psychology. I do not plan on becoming licensed to teach in Massachusetts but plan on moving to the south once I receive my degree to teach there. I am very much interested in working with inner city children. It is my passion to reach and inspire as many kids as I can. I believe I will learn a lot about the school system.