Day 7

Peer culture normally does not help the academic goals of the school. Many school aged students gain confidence through the acceptance of their friends, their athletic ability, and how they look and what they have. When students were asked what the best thing about their school was, almost 40% of the students answered “My Friends”. It is important to have a way to promote peer relationships in a way that will not hinder on the learning. One way that this can be done is through teaching the students to learn cooperatively. It is important to teach interpersonal and small-group skills along with encouraging the students to interact with other aged students and to watch out for the wellbeing of others in their classroom and school.

Recently there has been a new movie out called “American Teacher”. I have not seen the movie yet but I have seen some clips from it after reading a blog posted on edweek.org from Anthony Rebora. (http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2011/05/the_struggles_of_the_american_teacher.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2) Rebora gives an overview of the movie and explains that the central theme of the movie is money. The movie also talks about five k-12 educators from around the nation and what they have to do on a day to day basis for their profession. Rebora said that there was a panel discussion after the preview of the movie and one of the teachers there said “I think it’s about time there’s a film like this.” I think that teachers across America would be able to talk about the effects of peer culture on their classroom but also the peer culture in the workforce. Teachers are special people and they are preparing students for the world and for whatever career they decide to pursue.

Yes, I think that teachers in America have a hard task, and yes, I do think that their job is very important, but I do not think the focus can be money. A lot of teachers have a heart for helping their students, and that is how it should be. In my experiences with watching my mom in her classroom and hearing her classroom, I have grown to have a passion for helping kids and for getting through those harder days to reach the ones that are the most rewarding. Challenges in the classroom are expected but I have the highest outlook on it all because I know that God will help me through any situation. I know that there is a reason I have been called to this profession, and I strongly believe that I will be placed in each one of my student’s lives for a specific reason and I hope to be a light in their lives. It is important to have cooperative learning in the classroom to help the students learn about loving one another and they can be honoring God in that way. God will provide for the teacher and the student in whatever way is needed. I believe that teachers can be seen as angels in the lives of their students, and if they take the time to care about the students as people, and guide them towards the right decisions in and outside of the classroom, they can have the greatest impact on the lives of many.

Philip Jackson studied the classrooms in elementary schools and he found a diversity of specific subjects, but in terms of the activity in the classroom, there was not much difference between the schools.  He saw the usual structure of things happening not because students wanted them to, but because it was time for them to happen. There were a lot of rules such as no loud talking and raising hands if there was a question. The “rules of order” were implemented in order to prevent disturbances. Further studies were done by John Goodlad and they found a similar pattern with five main points. The group is treated as a whole, and the emotional tone is flat or more neutral. In this type of classroom culture, there is a great stress on order and obedience and the enthusiasm is controlled. Most of the work done includes listening to the teacher, taking notes, and writing responses. He concluded his studies by presenting the information that instruction never seemed to go beyond simply the procession of the information, and there was no effort mad to emphasize thinking or further curiosity.

In the blog previously mentioned, the author, Rebora talked about the recent film that came out and talked about the struggle that teachers have. I am not sure how much the film focuses on the positive effect the teachers had on their students but in one of the clips I saw, the student was contacted by her old teacher years down the road after her dad had passed away. If teachers simply focus on the standards and the specifics in the curriculum, the students will never be able to reach their full potential. As Goodlad explained that students “scarcely ever speculate on meanings” (303), I see a greater problem in the educational systems. It is not just how teachers are being treated in terms of their salary and long hours worked; it also needs to be what they are doing for the students. Maybe teachers do not make that much, and maybe they do work a lot of hours, but it could be those teachers who are taking the extra steps to help their students grow. I think I want to see the film for myself to see where the emphasis is really put, but I do know that there are teachers who have the right idea about helping their students and who refuse to get stuck in that “rules of order” classroom culture.

At Nathan Hale Middle School, there are a lot of struggles in the classroom because of situations occurring outside of the classroom. However, I do think that there can be a different culture and community within the classroom. One thing that I want to do when I am a teacher is have a set community and “rule of order” for my classroom. I want my students to feel comfortable and not judged in my classroom and I plan on allowing my students to think critically and beyond what the curriculum is requiring. I hope I can be that teacher that lots of students remember for more than just their 3^rd grade teacher and I pray that I will be able to impact my students in a way that they might see the light in me and find their ways to Christ. God has called people to their profession and we have to remember to live each day honoring Him. I think that holding students from experiencing greatness is not what God intended for their lives. I plan to be fully committed to my classroom and the success of my students not only on the standards and tests but with their dreams.