Disillusionment

This chapter shows even more that teachers have lives and in having lives they too can become overwhelmed. I think in this chapter it shows that not only can teachers save their students, but students can also save their teachers. I really hope that I have some students that can see through my shield and understand that I can have difficult times as well. Although I wonder how much sharing is crossing the line. I want my students to understand that I can suffer hardships as well, but I am not sure how much I can actually share with them. I want to think that my classroom is going to be like one big happy family that can tell anything to one another. However, there are some issues that students probably shouldn’t know about each other or should know about me. How much is too much?

Generations

In the work place the generation that the person is from greatly affects everything in how the person thinks and responds to people. Learning how to communicate with all the different generations will help and will make it easier for people to communicate and work together. Often generations do not understand other generations. Each generation has their own underlying values and characteristics.

The only effect I see this having between my students and I are technology and instant gratification. Many students in the younger part of the generation expect instant gratification with everything that they do. However, with education things like this do not happen instantly. Also this generation will already be miles ahead of me technology wise. Even though I consider myself to be computer savy, I did not grow up with computers, ipods, and or cell phones. These came later in my life. Also as a new teacher who does know how to use technology and understands new teaching techniques this might cause friction with the older generations. These generations tend to stick to more traditional ways of teaching.

Engagement

The chapter engagement makes me realize how many students just need someone. They need someone to listen to their story and to care about them because sometimes that is what is missing from their lives. As a teacher I really hope that I can accomplish this. That I can show my students that I am there for them and will help them achieve their goals as much as I can. In reality I am not going to be a teacher of only biology, but show my students that even though their present might be bleak their future is bright. It takes hard work and determination, but their goals will always be reachable if they just stretch a little farther. It’s going to be hard for me not to go all out with my students, part of me is afraid that I will become too involved, but sometimes it is necessary.

The Story of School 1950-1980

I think the most interesting aspect of this episode is that all these issues really happened only 50-60 years ago. In my head they seem like they are so far in the past and people should already be accepting of the people we use to separate in our society. It makes more sense now that some people believe that women still need to just stay in the house to cook or clean, or that African Americans and other ethnic groups should still be educated in separate schools. The same goes for those who have disabilities. Many people do not believe that children with disabilities have the right or even the capacity to learn. The other thing that also really surprised me is that even when the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Topeka School Board that it still took nine years for the law to be enforced. States still had segregated schools until money became involved and then schools stopped being segregated. It still bothers me that our society still holds onto some of these values and gender biases. It just shows even more the different ideals of the different generations.

The Story of School 1900-1950

I think what was the most shocking about this video is the treatment of immigrants and native Americans. We are still completely set on the American way that we completely forget about the benefits of cultural diversity. For example, schools during this time period would prohibit native languages from being spoken in the classroom and would give these children books only in English and gave them books on patriotism. Also only Christian and secular American holidays are recognized in the schools. This is still partially true today that only planned vacations fall on Christian holidays. I think the most upsetting topic of this program was the section on IQ tests. They were meant to see where students were and measure their intelligence but the tests were and still are extremely culturally biased. Even the SATs which stemmed from the IQ tests are biased and do not really measure anything of importance. Someone can easily study for the SATs, but still be a “poor” student in school.

Challenges

I don’t even know what to think about this chapter. Seeing these kids with these problems just completely breaks my heart. In an ideal world children would never see any kind of darkness, but unfortunately, our world is less than ideal. This also reminds me that as a teacher I have to remember that some of my students are going through things that I cannot even imagine and that the face that they put out into the world is not what they are truly feeling. This chapter reminds me that my students need to see me as a human being as well. I was really surprised with all the different issues some of these teachers went through while growing up. When I was in school, teachers never seemed to have issues they seems liked their lives were always perfect. This chapter reminds me that everyone has dark parts of their pasts, some are a lot worse than others.

Cultural Identity Shield

Anticipation

The first reading in this chapter really spoke to me. I remember on the first day of any class and even now in college being nervous and shy about speaking out in class. It’s that chance of possibly being horrible judged that most students are afraid of. This is going to be one of the most challenging obstacles that I will have to help my students face. When students first enter a class especially in high school they do not want to be singled out, they do not want to answer questions that might actually lead to who they truly are. In order for me to be s successful teacher I need my students to open up and show me who they are. I need to know how they learn, where they come from, what hardships they may suffer, and what they want to do in life. One of the most important details I need to know about my students is what they think of themselves and their future. Without that I cannot teach them what they need to know in order to survive in this world. They may not remember anything about biology when they leave my class, but maybe, I can help them become the people they want to become.

Diversity

In most public schools, teaching leans more towards uniformity than diversity. In order for education to be successful teachers and schools need to find a balance between these two concepts. Often different cultures clash with the culture that is emphasized in schools. Also students who are diagnosed with ADHD may not be because they actually have the disorder but because they are not in tune with the way the teacher is teaching or stresses from life outside school. Cognition consists of two different stages, perception and the gaining of knowledge. This knowledge is then used differently by different people and how this affects the person is also extremely individualized. Students who share cultural experiences may have similar ways of learning. A student’s way of learning is a combination of genetics and the environment in which they grew up. As educators we need to accept the fact that everyone learns in a different way.
It is not new knowledge that people think and learn in different ways, however, it is overwhelming, as a teacher, to realistically teach to each student individually. I think that in order my sanity that I will have to cross mix both diverse ways of teaching and uniformity by allowing the same concepts to be understood in many different ways. I remember as a student being restless when a teacher was boring me so in order to be a successful teacher I need to make sure that students are interested in what I am saying and how it can be relevant to their lives by understanding their culture and history. I realize too that some students cannot help the way that they learn and act. In order to be successful I have to adapt to them and find strategies that help them learn the key concepts that I am trying to teach.