Final Farewell!!!!

When I began this course I knew I would learn many things, lots about education and also maybe a few life lessons. My mind did not even come close to comprehending what an impact this was all going to have on me. Social justice was a big topic in this class, and for good reason. School systems today are nothing like they where 20 years ago, teachers have many things to consider before beginning to teach a class, some students have disabilities, family issues, some students are from different cultures and need to be slowly paced into their surroundings. It is not as simple as pulling out a book and reading from it no more, teachers need to get to know students and their families on a case by case scenario. Students also have it a lot different then in years past, violence and discrimination are rampant in today's school systems. It is scary when children are killing other children and no one can save them, it is a war they have to fight themselves and it happens every single day. I did not understand what exactly social justice was when I came to this class, I just knew it involved social rights, I assumed. However it has a much deeper meaning to me now, especially since I will be faced with all of these issues as a teacher and a mother of two students, and hopefully from what I have learned in this classroom I will be able to stand up tall and strong and fight for what is right for myself and my students.




Education Model


Becoming a teacher is entering into a marriage!








I put a lot of thought into my educational model, actually I stressed for weeks because I could not think of anything, when I finally relaxed and let go it hit me, as I ate dinner one night with my husband and children and listened to them about their day, I realized that education and teaching is similar to a family or marriage. Its like this, when you decide to marry someone it should be because you love them and they love you, for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, when you become a teacher you take a vow to hold young peoples minds and souls in the palm of your hand and promise not to drop them. In a marriage there are ups and downs and in education and teaching everyday is not going to be great but you can not take it personal and walk away because of one bad day. Sadly enough, statistics show that roughly 50% of marriages end in divorce, and that made me think of the statistics dealing with drop out rates and mcas scores. Just because marriages fail does not mean that some marriages cant thrive and be wonderful, same as with students, just because there are high failure rates does not mean that you cant succeed. I pride myself on being a great mother and wife, and I will have that same sense of pride when I become a teacher.




Interview:


I decided to interview my daughter who is 7 years old, I was going to interview an adult but I gave it some thought, and who is more honest and straightforward than a child!


Krystal: Is it OK if I ask you a few questions, and you can just answer me with whatever you feel comfortable with.


Bianna: "yup!"

Krystal: "Do you enjoy school?"

Bianna: "yeah, its fun, especially when I go to recess with CJ "(her friend)

Krystal: "Are there any children in your school that are different then you are?"

Bianna: "yeah, some kids are different in my class, and their are different kids in other classes, mommy, why do kids make fun of them because they are different, I think they are nice and sweet."

Krystal: "Not everyone is as considerate as you, honey. Thank you for helping mommy with her homework, lets do your homework now."


This interview was not very long but it crossed the point I wanted to make, children at a young age learn and see what they are around and apart of. I have always taught my children that just because you are different on the outside everyone has the same heart and when you are mean it hurts the same way for everyone. This interview was to show everyone that disabilities are a big part of today's classrooms, and some children understand it and others don't. If a child is not taught at home that its not OK to hurt someone and make fun of them because they are different then where are they going to be taught that. I am very proud of my child and also of myself for instilling those qualities and morals in her that it is not OK to be mean to anyone regardless of who you are.


This brings me to my final discussion about integrated classrooms which I discussed in a previous blog. Which you can read below.


Who do Integrated classrooms help? I believe that they help everyone involved, the teachers, the special needs students, the so-called "regular" need students, as well as the parents of all students. My daughter was in an integrated classroom in kindergarten as a "regular" needs student and it helped her in many ways. It taught her that not everyone is the same and that not everyone learns the same way. It also taught her compassion and sympathy. It also helped the students that had special needs, it taught them that just because they have different learning needs they are the same as all the other children, it allows them to be treated like everyone else. I also think that it gives the teachers a chance to learn more about special needs and what it takes to teach in that type of environment. I think that inclusion could be a good idea in the right type of situations, if there are not severe physical or mental handicaps that wouldn't allow for it I think that it could work in a lot of school systems. I would love for my child to have the opportunity to be in another integrated classroom if not in a full inclusion school system. Does anyone think that integrated classrooms is a bad idea?


I believe that the reason my daughter has morals and compassion as she does is due to the fact that when she was in kindergarten she was placed in an integrated classroom. I admit that I was nervous at first that she was not going to learn what she was suppose to learn because the teachers would be focused on the special needs students, however I was wrong. The special needs students had one on one aids, and the curriculum was the same as it was in the other kindergarten classrooms. My daughter not only learned from them but they also learned from her and others and got to feel as though they were finally apart of something and not outside the circle. This is probably the biggest topic that hits me the hardest and I feel the most passion for, and I really hope that more classrooms and schools decide to add more integrated classes, because as I said in my previous blog, everyone including students and teachers benefit from it.



I just want to take a minute to thank everyone that has read my blog this semester and thank you to everyone who has given my constructive criticism and compliments , nothing ever said to me has gone unnoticed or forgotten, and it has been a pleasure being in this class with all of you.

Racism in schools

"It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person" This is a quote from James Baldwin and it is the best quote I have ever heard. Todays classroom is full of racism and hate, students of color are taunted after school, and when I say color, I mean every color, black, white, hispanic. I think that all it takes is one racist person to bring down an entire community. And by this I mean one student to bring down a classroom, or for that matter one teacher. Everyone thinks that racism will never come to a complete end, as is the same with hunger and violence. I beleive that one person can make a difference, if only one person is to change their thoughts and behaviors towards racism, then that is the beginning to an end. I recently read an article where a teacher had posted pictures in her classroom that portrayed racism in a light where the students thought it was not an option to be racist. Children learn what they see, and most of what they see is at home or in school. I think it is a great idea to hang up posters that teach students to love everyone regardless of color or race.

On a different note, I can admit that I grew up in a racist home, and my father was not one to like white girls to go out with black men, or any man that was not white for that matter, and I am proud to say that I am the opposite and it was from his ignorance that I learned to be this way, I decided at a young age that it was not ok to hate other people because of their race, and I made sure that I was friendly to everyone in school and I teach my daughters the same thing. The point of saying this is because their is no excuse to be racist, not even that you grew up that way, everyone has a mind of their own and the best mind to have is a non racist one! I hope that my daughter treats everyone equal in the classroom becuase it starts with one person to end it all!

Montessori School's

Montessori schools where began by a women by the name of Maria Montessori, she was an Italian doctor who prided herself on educating the children of Romes ghetto. Although since Montessori is not a legal copyrighted name, Montessori by the way of a name of a school does not mean that the school adheres to Montessori philosophy of education. So basically while researching this type of school I learned it kind of came with a"buyer beware" sort of philosophy, I guess kind of a, what you see is not what you get. Most schools offer education from infant through 8th grade, The following is a description of a montessori school, written by Ruth Hurvitz, of the montessori school in Wilton, CT. which I found on About.com.

"The Montessori School's culture is devoted to helping each child grow toward independence by building confidence, competence, self-esteem and respect for others. More than an approach to education, Montessori is an approach to life. The program at The Montessori School, both in philosophy and pedagogy, is based on the scientific research work of Dr. Maria Montessori and on AMI Montessori training. The School respects children as self-directed individuals and fosters their growth toward independence and social responsibility, while creating a joyful, diverse and family-oriented community.
Montessori classrooms are designed in a multi-age mix from toddlers through adolescents which allows for both individual and social development. The classrooms are beautiful by design. They are set up in an open style, with work areas throughout the room and materials available on accessible shelving. Most lessons are given to small groups or individual children while other children are working independently.
The school uses stories, Montessori materials, charts, time lines, objects of nature, treasures from the wealth of cultures around the worlds and sometime conventional tools to teach the children. Guided by the teacher, Montessori students actively participate in planning their time and taking responsibility for their work.
Committed to diversity, The Montessori School community is inclusive and depends on the tenets of respect. The school believes in sharing what we have with those in need and encouraging children to learn to live responsibly in the world. At The Montessori School, students are inspired to live both passionately and compassionately in a global community."

I think that this type of philosophy in teaching children is beautiful, it allows children to learn from others, such as younger and older children and it allows the child to learn from there mistakes without almost being grading on them. I think that this type of schooling is more passionate about a childs life in whole and not just about their school educations, these type of settings allow for more family invovlement and more love and compassion to be shown towards each student, my only concern is that after 8th grade where do students go, to a public or private school and how do they adhere to such different settings after 8 years or more in a setting like this.

Do you think that these types of "different" schools are good to have as an option when schooling your children?

Would you send or do you send your child to this type of school?

Soren Kierkegaard, Existentialism

Soren Kierkegaard is said to be the originator of existentialism, which is a philosophy that emphasizes the human experience. He was born in 1813 and died in 1855, which means that he was a pretty poweful man to become an originator of a philosphical idea in such a short lifetime. Basically he beleived that there was no meaning to the universe other than that of the human experience, so it is safe to say that in this lifetime he would have been a pretty hands on teacher, defintely not a preacher! Human life exists but that we are only what we make ourselves. The idea of existentialism showed that every individual is the subject of his or her own reality, and no two realities are the same. The importance of individual creativity and personal choice can not be stressed enough when speaking of this philosphy and philospher. I guess you could say that this man learned by experience and if all children where taught to think before doing and learnign from their actions this world would by far be abetter place to learn and grow.

Discrimination and social justice

I did think to much about this topic as I read the article Rethinkin Schools, I didnt really grasp what the whole social justice thing was. I then did some reearch online and realized that it really hit home, its about equality and fairness and not being prejudice and cruel. There are many schools that still have inequality and prejudice happening everyday, some caused by students and parents and sadly sometimes caused by teachers. This world will never ever EVER be perfect, but as a future teacher I can tell you that with out a doubt ALL teachers should love and accept and nurture ALL students, black, white, smart, poor, rich, clean, dirty, all students should step into their classrooms as equal and they should all be given the same oppurtunities in life. I think sadly that students who have parents involved in the community and schools get more attention then say the students who may live in a foster system and dont have active parents, I find this sad and unfair. I actually see it happen all the time at my daughters school, the same parents and students involved in activities and then the same students left out,

Do you notice any inequality in your childs school
or
Did you see injustice in your own schools growing u.

I can honestly say that I will be a huge advocate for social justice and equality in my classroom and school and I will be a great role model for all my students starting from this day on.

Integrated classrooms

Who do Integrated classrooms help? I beleive that they help everyone involved, the teachers, the special needs students, the so-called "regular" need students, as well as the parents of all students. My daughter was in an intergrated classroom in kindergarten as a "regular" needs student and it helped her in many ways. It taught her that not everyone is the same and that not everyone learns the same way. It also taught her compassion and sympathy. It also helped the students that had special needs, it taught them that just because they have different learning needs they are the same as all the other children, it allows them to be treated like everyone else. I also think that it gives the teachers a chance to learn more about special needs and what it takes to teach in that type of environment. I thinkt that inclusion could be a good idea in the right type of situations, if there are not severe physical or mental handicaps that wouldnt allow for it I think that it could work in a lot of school systems. I would love for my child to have the oppurtunity to be in another intergrated classroom if not in a full inclusion school system. Does anyone think that intergrated classrooms is a bad idea?

Violence in Schools

Violence in schools is scary, especially as a mother of two little girls. I actually found statistics from the National crime victimization survey that showed since 1993 school violence and school homicides have declined, however that shows violence and murders on school grounds, I beleive that alot of violence is now taking place off of school grounds, I myself live in a city that has had 9 shootings in about a weeks timeframe, and most of the shootings involved school age children. How does a 14 year old get a gun? How does a child learn violence such as this? I beleive it is the family structure, gangs grow in families, If a father is in a gang it is natural for him to pass his violent behavior onto his sons or even daughters. I think that teachers and principals do what they can to try to stop and prevent violence and negative activity, however if a child is learning violence from family and friends it is not going to matter what the school does. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS,. has anyone heard that phrase? well its true, the heart, the soul, the mind all of it is formed and shaped at home, and then it is built up more at school. No matter how much violence decreases or increases in school, 1 violent act is to much for a child to encounter, I think or shall I say I know that the answer is for the legal system to get tougher on the parents of young students who get into trouble and treat 14 year olds that shoot and murder someone automatically as an adult, until that happens all this pain and violence is going to continue.