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.