Chapters 6 and 7 Blog

Chapter 6: 
1. -Though education in schools focuses mainly on academic curriculum, students, by default, learn many other things. Hidden curriculum refers to outcomes of education (that are not stated) that students experience and learn by spending time in schools. Most likely these outcomes are unintended, but they can be both positive and negative. For instance, I believe that all children learn basic skills like teamwork and social skills by being in the classroom. By working together with other students and interacting with others, students learn how to appropriately converse with other students. This knowledge will stick with students both when they are in the classroom and when they leave to go out and create relationships with others outside of the classroom. I also think students learn how to manage time, especially at the high school and college level. Students have to learn how to balance their time between schoolwork, family, friends, and extracurriculars, even though there is not a specific class that teaches these ideas. Students also learn how to form friendships with other students and how to treat authoritative figures with respect. -Schools are definitely social institutions: if they were not, students would absolutely be unable to learn. They are social institutions simply because learning requires social interactions between at least two separate parties. At the most basic level, students and teachers interact. A teacher is meant to guide his or her students on the pathways of learning and must interact with them socially in order to do so. If teachers did not socially interact with students, learning would be impossible. Students are also social with other students, faculty members, and even parents of students. Students interact socially in order to learn different opinions about a particular issue. This social atmosphere helps to eliminate educational biases; that is, that students will learn things from many different perspectives so they can form their own personal opinions--not just mimic the thoughts of others. In terms of teachers and faculty members, they can be social with each other to discuss teaching methods and personal experiences that could enhance the future teaching strategies. Because teachers share students (students go to various classes with various teachers), teachers can discuss the learning capabilities of a particular student and compare his or her capabilities between different classes. Teachers could share information with each other and could learn even more about a student. In terms of administrators, it is absolutely vital that they keep in social contact with both teachers and students. If not, administrators would have absolutely no basis for making decisions. A member of administration must understand the views of teachers and students in order to make valid and just decisions about a school system.

2. In order to change education for the better and continue to promote its growth, it is absolutely necessary to recognize the regularities of schooling. Thinking back on my high school experience, I definitely took a lot of things for granted without even recognizing them. For instance, how do schools determine which students are in honors classes and which students qualify for AP classes? Why could I not take AP classes as a freshman or sophomore in high school? On top of academics, I was involved in my school plays and musicals. I was President of the drama club, Revere Players, and acted in each and every performance. I ended up getting leads in most of the roles I auditioned for. Was it because I was really talented, or did my position on the board of the organization play a part in what role I received? I am sure that it did influence my director's decision, even if she was not aware of it. I am also sure she took into account who was a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. All of these things have always been done a certain way, but no one ever questions them. Now that I look back on them, however, these things are very obvious and perhaps they need to be thought of in greater depth in order to eliminate unfair biases and discriminations.

Chapter 7
1. The most successful classroom is one in which all students can learn. In order for this to happen, the most critical and important aspect of the classroom is the teacher. The teacher must be able to implement many different learning styles--as many learning styles are there are children. All children and students learn differently, though some learn very similarly. A classroom where all children can learn will also have many different ways children can learn. For example, this classroom will have computers and a smartboard (technology) as well as a traditional chalk board or dry-erase board. This way, students who learn better through technology can do so, while students who learn better by writing on an actual chalk or dry-erase board can do so as well. The teacher will make sure information is conveyed in multiple different ways: audio, visual, tactile, etc. These various options will ensure that each student can have a successful and personalized learning experience.

2. I bring many personal strengths to the profession of teaching. I am dedicated to the profession and know I will be able to connect with each and every one of my students. I am confident, personable, and very able to talk to people of all ages and levels of authority. I plan ahead, commit and follow through with those plans, and am very adamant about making sure plans go correctly. I love working with others and have previously worked with children in organizations such as vacation bible school and through teacher aiding my senior year of high school. I am very organized and committed to bettering the futures of children. Because I am so patient and organized, I will be able to cater to the needs of all of my students individually. It would break my heart to see a student struggle or fall behind because of my teaching methods. My patience will also allow me to explore different teaching methods until I find the ones that work best for me.