Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Regan Orgeron
Professor Carol Billing
EDU 204 Families, Communities, and Culture
Spring 2016

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Introduction
I am not the traditional college student. For me, that means being 42 years old in a world
of 18 and 19-year-old college students. To say I am out of my element, would be an
understatement. I am an old dog learning new tricks. That makes me, the perfect example that all
students can learn. I face my own challenges as a forty-two-year-old man in a college class
room, just as students in the K-12 classroom environment face their own challenges. Todays
classrooms are different economically, religiously, culturally and developmentally. I may not
have experienced what each student is experiencing, but with my own challenges, I can
understand and have compassion. Working through these challenges with students will be a
thrilling experience, which I hope will show through and encourage students to keep pushing and
keep learning.
All Students Can Learn
Recent research in education has demonstrated that some strategies are more effective
than others for bringing about student learning. I dont think there is a single method of
instruction that will work with every learning objective for every student in the classroom.
Technology is changing at such a fast pace, it is up to the teacher to develop new ways for
students to learn. The teacher has to take some of the responsibility, and stay ahead of the
technology curve. If the curriculum is up to day with the latest technology, kids will stay
engaged.
Technology is great, and should be used in the class room every day, but there are other
great strategies we can use. The teacher should establish organization and structure in the class
room. A teacher can do this by establishing and communicating clear learning objectives

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

throughout the course, give clear and useful explanations, and vary the structured learning
activities to focus the students attention.
As a teacher, it is important to keep students intrinsically motivated. The lesson needs to
be personal or have some real world relevance. Providing frequent feedback is also a great
motivator. If the student is involved it will provide opportunities for interaction and discussion.
As teachers, we should ask questions and demonstrate an interest in students opinion. These
types of challenges give the student a sense of equal participation and interaction if the teacher is
demonstrating a sense of enthusiasm, trust, approachability, honesty and humility. If we as
teachers, keep up to date on technology, and keep the student engaged and challenged, all
students can learn.
Teachers Expectations
Teachers have expectations for student performance and tend to treat students differently
depending on these expectations. Teachers have to establish a learning philosophy, and must
adjust their expectations and practices so that all children can learn at high levels, or at the
highest level possible for each student.
Unfortunately, not all teachers have high expectations for all of their students, especially
poorer students and those of color. Teacher expectations are not the only thing against these
students, but believing that all students can learn, can help give students that little push that
might be needed. Higher expectations of a person lead to higher performance. The opposite is
also true. If low expectations are placed on someone, they're more likely to perform poorly. The
teachers actions will help fulfill the prophesy the teacher holds in their head about the student.
This means that a teacher's faith, or lack of faith in a student's abilities may influence the
student's future achievement.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Setting goals is a great way to improve educational performance. Having students focus
on specific objectives, or goals in smaller steps will help students see the bigger picture. An
effective goal is detailed, assessable, and moderately difficult but still attainable for all students.
If teachers provide detailed writing and planning for goals, it will increase the likelihood of
students reaching these goals.
Setting goals to measure student achievements enables students to see what they have
done and what they are capable of accomplishing. When students can see their results it gives the
confidence needed to reach for and achieve higher goals. By setting goals within the school
curriculum, students can see forward progress in what might otherwise have been a long drawn
out process. With goals set throughout the curriculum it will improve the students academic
performance, and increase the students motivation to achieve these smaller steps. As these goals
are reached it will increase the pride and self-confidence students have with themselves.
Students Social Ecology Theory
A students social ecology is a body of ideas the student has that comes from their
parents, friends, church and even economical social status. As a teacher, we have the difficult
job of connecting with all our students and their social ecology, this can include religion and
political beliefs. We also have to take into account their social and economic background while
celebrating their own diversity, creativity and freedom. Social ecology isnt everything, but it is a
component that helps teachers understand where the students come from and how students
understand the curriculum.
Strong communication between school staff and families is important at any school. In
addition to setting a tone of respect and tolerance, strong communication with families also
offers teachers an opportunity to invite family involvement and share curriculum goals, materials

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

and resources. Teachers should make a point of learning the key figures in a students life and
involving them if needed. This may include welcoming stepparents, parental partners regardless
of gender, sometimes you have to keep your own beliefs in check for the benefit of the student.
The importance of family in the educational process is extremely important. Parent
involvement can help predict a students academic achievement. A strong parent can strengthen
the impact of any educational program. A clear understanding of educational goals and how to
achieve them between the teacher and the parent can lead to an honest relationship with parents
and consistent instruction on the curriculum. Community organizations can also provide key
support to schools when access to families is difficult, or when there are language or cultural
barriers. Positive impact through engagement stems from partnerships between schools, parents
and communities that are based on respect and accountability. The impact families have on
schools in creating an environment that encourages student achievement is extremely valuable.
These families and community organizations can have a huge impact on the schools ability to
deliver quality services to children by involving themselves in the solutions of the schools.
Cultural Diversity Instruction
Most teachers in the education profession are white, middle-class, and only speak
English. Every day the profile of students is changing. Students are coming from every walk of
life and different back grounds. The student ethnicity is becoming more front and center. Many
teachers try to bridge this difference with an embrace of color-blindness or the golden rule,
treating others the way we would want to be treated, I think culture needs to be embraced.
Culture isn't just a list of holidays or religious tradition. It is an experience unique to each
student. As teachers, it's our job to encourage the academic development of children, it's simply
not enough to function on color-blindness or the golden rule. To involve students with ethnicity

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

in their background we must reach out to them in ways that are culturally responsive and
appropriate. We must examine the cultural assumptions and stereotypes we bring into the
classroom that may impede our abilities to teach. To engage students in the learning process,
teachers must know their students and their academic abilities, rather than relying on racial or
ethnic stereotypes, or even worse, prior experience with other students of similar backgrounds.
Cultural Pluralism is having an appreciation of various cultures in our society.
Understanding religious beliefs and lifestyles. As teachers we need to embrace this perspective.
At the same time, Cultural Assimilation is equally important. Students new to the United States
or any country, need to learn the language used in that country. They also need to learn the
cultural of that country. It is the students best interest to learn the cultural norms of their new
home, without forgetting their own cultural. It is this balance that will make the student a
complete and contributing member of society, which is the goal of a good education.
Curriculum for all Learners
Knowing who your students are, as a group and as individuals, is an important part
of good teaching. In recent years education has become increasingly diverse. The variety of
students is far greater, and their needs are very different, than in the past. As Teachers, we need
to treat all students as individuals with unique strengths, weaknesses, and needs rather than
generalized racial, ethnic or cultural groups. Creating a curriculum meets all of these needs is
the tricky part. Teachers need to adapt and learn a variety of teaching styles to respond to the
needs of diverse students. Teachers need to create an open classroom that values the experiences
and perspectives of all students, and engages them to learn from each other and to treat each
other as equals.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Since the class room is getting more diverse, the learning style of each student is also
getting harder to understand. Auditory learners prefer to learn information by hearing it. These
students may struggle with reading and writing, but excel at memorizing. Visual learners prefer
to receive information by seeing it. These students pay attention to detail. They are less likely to
speak in class than auditory learners. Outlines, graphs, maps and pictures are useful in helping
these students learn. Kinesthetic-Tactile learners tend to learn best when movement and touch
are involved. These students are often labeled hyperactive because they tend to move around
a great deal. Because they like movement, they learn best when allowed to explore and
experience their environment.
The fact that we all learn in many ways is justification for utilizing a variety of teaching
approaches. Understanding learning styles can help us as teachers create more inclusive
classrooms where everyone has a chance to succeed.

STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

References
Berns, R. M. (2013). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support (9th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Print.