Running head: Statement of Informed Beliefs

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Kazley Montgomery
College of Southern Idaho
Evin Fox
EDUC 204: Families, Communities, and Cultures
Spring, Semester 2016

Authors Note
This paper was prepared for Families, Communities, and Cultures class, taught by Professor Fox.

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Abstract
It is to be discussed the expectations of teachers in the classroom, such as their responsibilities as
a mentor for the children, the teacher of the material, how the classroom should be set up such as
the colors and the desk set up, the classroom rules and restrictions. The teachers are there for the
students to ask questions, be mentored, be cared for, and to be a successful student now and in
the future. The students should have an equal opportunity to a successful education. Therefore,
there are going to be students with all different backgrounds, learning disabilities, and so the
teacher should be accountable for each student and their educational abilities and goals. With the
help of the teacher, the student should be taught to take control over their own education and use
the resources that are given, such as their teacher, to learn from.

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Sustainability in the Classroom
Often times when we walk into a classroom we observe what the children are doing, if
they are working on their homework, doing a project, reading a book together, or listening to the
teacher, while taking notes. Whereas we also look to see what the classroom is decorated like, if
there are bright colors on the wall, if there are classroom rules are posted so that the children can
see what they regulations are of the classroom. This then gives the opportunity to have the
student learn responsibilities as a student and the teacher as a teacher.
Students Ability to Learn
The teacher plays a very important role in helping the student learn. Without the student
in the classroom, willing to teach and help, the students wouldnt be able to learn all that needed.
There are many responsibilities that teachers are faced with each day. To start, the teacher is there
to help the children learn, so how do they do that? First, as a teacher it is important to look
around the room and find the needs of your students, and have a goal. The educational goal is
what you are wanting them to learn by the end of the month, six months, semester, yearetc.
Having students learn and be able to apply simple addition and subtraction is a foundation for
their future learning. In order to accomplish this goal, the teacher needs to plan effectively each
week and according to the needs of the students, such as planning an activity using ice-cream
cones. The student has the cone then has to add how many scoops will be put on it, or how many
they will have to take off, then at the end, they are able to eat a little ice-cream cone for a treat as
a positive reinforcement! So in order to do such activities and have a great learning experience,
the students have to be aware of their responsibilities too. Not only are we able to use activities
such as the ice-cream, but we as teachers can say a simple Good Job. It is important that

Statement of Informed Beliefs

students be recognized for their efforts and improvement, it is the teachers responsibility to keep
the students interested and challenged.
The students have just as many responsibilities in the classroom as the teacher does. The
students are responsible for their own education. It is most important that the students have the
desire to learn. With the desire to learn, they are willing to participate in classrooms and be able
to learn from their peers. They also to have an educational goal, of what they want to learn
within the learning year. Carolle Howes did a study in 2009 with children interacting one with a
another. It was proven that 13-24 month old toddlers were able to be friendlier and be able to
work with other, the earlier they were placed with other people. (Berns 2007) So for example
they can ask the teacher if they have a question, and receive feedback from the teacher. Also a
great way for children to take on the responsibility of owning their education would be to involve
their family. The primary emphasis is to give parents the opportunity to be involved in their
childs educational growth outside of the regular school-day classroom and to see some of the
enriching things their child is learning. For the parents who have volunteered, this has been a
great way to see school in a more positive light. (Effective Stretegies)
Students Social Ecology Theory
Families are a very important part of schooling. They can be a great way of motivation
for the children to do better in school but also it can be a way for parents to be a part of the
school adventure with their children. There are many values that the family may have that will
help the child be more successful in school. The values play a huge role in what the student is
looking forward to earn or learn. Often times students want to be noticed for what they
accomplish at school, so that is when the community comes into play. The community often
times is very important to the schools success because they are there to motivate the kids to do

Statement of Informed Beliefs

well, and recognize them for what good they are doing. So the more community support that we
seek, the more successful the school and students will be. Therefore, with what the community
does all depend on what type of culture they have, whether they be a melting pot, religious, or
well set economically. The culture within the town or city or country is very important because it
has a lot to do with the languages the children within the classroom will speak, which may, in
some cases, cause communication difficulties between the teacher and the students. The culture
is important as to what will be taught as well.
Culture Diversity Instructions
Cultural pluralism is the mutual appreciation and understanding of various cultures,
which includes the language, religion, traditions, etc. Therefore, the teacher and the student have
to agree with what cultural traditions will be put into the school system such as the first language
that will be spoke such as English.
Cultural Assimilation is when a small groups takes on the characteristics of a big group.
For example, it a small community is in a big city, they are more than likely going to adapt to the
living lifestyle of the city. So if we look at the difference between the two, we can see that the
cultural pluralism is all the agreed to being different but living in the same environment where as
the cultural assimilation is one tries to become like the other. This can be a popular problem in
schooling systems because often times there are many that speak different languages for example
and there is the barrier so the teachers and the students try to adapt to each others learning and
teaching method to be able to learn all that is possible and necessary.
So as we sit in a classroom and look around, we are going to see many different
ethnicities and it is very important that the classroom is respectful and honorable to each and
every person that is different, whether it be by their race, their native language, or their religion.

Statement of Informed Beliefs

It is important that they are all respected and that they are able to work with these differences. As
a teacher my goal is to be able to help the students know how to work with others, whether they
be different than you, younger or older, of different race or religion, it doesnt matter, but what
does matter is being able to work together and make something become better than it started.
Curriculum of all Learners
To be able to reach this goal, it is important that the teacher is able to teach the material in
many different ways and forms. So for example, if we go back to the topic of teaching simple
addition and subtraction, as a teacher we can begin teaching it by simply doing a few math
problems on the board, explaining each step one at a time. A few students will begin to catch on
to what is being taught, and they are now able to apply it to their homework and in their lives,
but then there are some other kids in the class that didnt quite understand the material, so as a
teacher we find new and different ways to teach it, for example, and object lesson, like using
blocks to have the kids add and subtract. They will be engaged in the activity.
Therefore, it is so important that as a teacher, we take time to plan every lesson properly,
and according to the needs of the students. That way is a teacher-learning curriculum, but a
lesson all focused on the students and their needs. It is important to start with the goal of what
you want the students to learn, how you are going to teach it, when you are going to teach it, and
how you are going to give the test at the end of teaching the material.
After the planning is done and the delivering of the material is in progress, we are able to
see what the children are understanding and what they are struggling with. Also we are able to
see how the student learn, if they are more object lesson learners, or just as simple as doing a few
examples on the board. Also during this time, it is important to know as a teacher, if the system

Statement of Informed Beliefs

or way that you are using is not seeming to click with the students we are able to switch to a
different teaching technique so that they may be able to understand in a better and easier manner.
A great way to have the children learn is not only from the teacher, but also their peers. It
is important for them to get to know their classmates and to be able to work along the side of
them. It is something that they are going to have to use their whole lives. They are going to have
to learn how to communicate, and also be able to solve problems together. So with an assignment
is can be very helpful for the students to have group assignments, where they have to work
together by taking on personal responsibility to get the job done. Just as if they have a table full
of blocks and a paper of math problems and they have to work together to solve the problems by
using the blocks. Its a great way for communication and group effort. Once the material is
practiced and mastered, it is time for the testing to begin.
A test is one of the most important ways to ensure the students are learning and have a
student-lead. It is a way to test their knowledge about the material that has been taught
throughout this amount of time. The test is to make the students think and apply everything they
learned. That is why it is so important to have the assessment ready from the get-go when
planning the material so that the students would be well prepared for what was coming on the
test.
Once grading tests are graded, we are able to see how well the students learned the
material and see if they have progressed, taking the test grades from the beginning of the year
until the point in which they are at. Brophy in 2007 did a study that it is usual for teachers to do a
test before and after so that they can see what has gotten better in the time they have been to
class, whereas also it helps the teacher set the expectation for the student and their success.
(Berns 2007) So for example if half of the students understood the material and the other half

Statement of Informed Beliefs

didnt, it would be wisest to think about that other half that didnt understand it and teach it
again, but in a different teaching style so that they more likely to understand the material. Then
once it is taught it is important to have reassessment so that the progress can be monitored and
they are able to learn as much as possible.
Conclusion
Last but not least, at the end of the day, the teacher needs to be able to sit down in the big
fluffy chair behind the wooden desk and reflect back on how the day went and meditate on how
they think the students handled the lessons. The teachers are to think about it and see what they
can change so that it is better for the students, or what they can continue to do for the years to
come because of the results which they have seen in these past lessons. The teacher should
always think about what is it that I can do to help the kids learn all they canand then apply it.

Statement of Informed Beliefs

References
Berns, R. M. (2007). Child, family, school, community. Wadsworth Pub.
Effective Strategies for Engaging Parents: Real-Life Experiences that Make a Difference.
(n.d.).