Running head: ASPIRE TO INSPIRE

Aspire To Inspire As a Teacher

Lindsey K Young
Carol Billing
Education 204: Families, Communities, and Culture
T, 1300-1415, Spring Semester 2015

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Aspire To Inspire As a Teacher

Our world is composed of many different cultures and ethnicities that bring diversity to
classrooms here in the United States. Every classroom is unique with each new school year. With
so many diverse people living in the United States, it provides an excellent learning opportunity
for all students in the classroom setting.
All Students Can Learn
Every student was born with the ability to learn, but learning styles may vary greatly. It is
crucial as a professional educator to get to know students at the beginning of the year to provide
each of them with an equal opportunity and a drive to learn. Teachers need to assess students
strengths and weaknesses, and individual learning styles in order to develop a plan geared toward
each students learning potential. In addition to academic development, teachers need to use
verbal and visual cues to learn of the students home environments. What is their home life like?
Do their parents help with schoolwork and encourage learning opportunities in the home? Are
there any home life stressors that may play a significant part in the students behavior and
education in the classroom? If teachers are aware and prepared for these concepts mentioned,
they will have an idea of how to teach each individual child based on their abilities.
Developmental psychologist, Urie Brofenbrenner (1979), explained the socialization
processes that will occur or is already occurring in each childs life with the Bioecological
Model of Human Development. Brofenbrenner says that all the ecologies children are exposed
to impact their development and learning capabilities. Teachers need to be aware of their
students ecologies, in order to make an educational plan for the students learning benefit.
Teachers also should be aware of Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development. This will
guide each educator on where each child should be at developmentally and what significant

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changes may be going on in a childs life at all ages.

Teachers Expectations
As children grow up, they are surrounded by many different adults that serve as role models,
or their microsystem. This microsystem can be made up of immediate family, close friends,
teachers, religious leaders, or any people having constant contact with the child. These adults
form expectations and goals that children learn to strive for. Students have academic expectations
from teachers and learn there are consequences for not following them. Not all children are
raised with expectations and goals but the majority of children do make every effort to meet the
demands of the influential adults in their lives. I firmly believe that a healthy relationship in all
microsystem influences is a key aspect to the students learning success.
In the classroom, as the teacher, it is very important to gain the trust and respect of each
student. If a student does honor and respect their teacher, they are more likely to make an effort
to succeed at the educational goals set for them. It is important for the teacher to offer ample
amounts of encouragement toward each child, as this form of positivity will provide a positive
outcome. At the beginning of each school year especially, it is important for the teacher to use
reinforcement to shape the desired behavior of the students, and for them to understand what is
expected of them in the academic setting.
Goal setting is an important component of students motivation, self-regulation, and
achievement in an academic setting. Goals for the students should be attainable and set to have
positive outcomes. By setting goals early on, students will learn self-regulation and self-efficacy.
It is the teachers responsibility to assist students in their personal educational goals as well as
goals set for them by the state and school board. Providing feedback is a good way for the
teacher to be involved in motivating and encouraging students toward their educational goals.

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Teachers should maintain close contact with parents and guardians to guide communication and
encouragement within the home.
Students Social Ecology Theory
As I mentioned, it is important at the beginning of a new school year for each teacher to really
learn about the students in their classroom; what their home life is like, what motivates them to
learn, what their interests are, and what their abilities are. Intentional and unintentional
socialization plays a significant part in the students everyday life, and teachers need to take this
into consideration with every student. Each childs chronosystem, environmental events, and
transitions occurring throughout their life, is affecting their socialization, positively or
negatively.
Lev Vygotsky introduced a term called zone of proximal development which is defined as
the space between what a learner can do independently and what he or she can do while
participating with more capable othersthese systems and the interactions between them shape
and mold how a child develops successfully or finds failure (Berns, 2013). Encouragement and
helpful connections within a childs ecology can greatly influence their learning capabilities and
success rate; however, not all students have those positive influences so it is especially important
for a teacher to be there for each and every student whether the child is well supported at home
or not.
Students come from all different backgrounds, family beliefs, cultures, and customs that all
play a significant part of their upbringing and their education. It is the teachers responsibility to
provide guidance and allow students to always be assured their schools and classrooms are safe
places for them to feel comfortable. It should be a place where students should be made to feel

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comfortable to confide in their teachers and staff members, and to be protected and able to learn
in a secure environment.
Cultural Diversity Instruction
As a professional educator, it is important to know and understand different cultural and
ethnic backgrounds. People of all different ethnicities practice different traditions and may have
different lifestyle choices such as holidays, religious views, clothing styles, etc. As a teacher, you
will have students of different ethnicities during your time in the classroom setting. In my
opinion, it would greatly benefit a future educator to become aware and knowledgeable of
different cultures and ethnicities, especially those common ethnicities that live in the area(s)
where one plans to teach, before they step foot into the classroom.
Cultural Pluralism is defined as mutual appreciation and understanding of various cultures
and coexistence in society of different languages, religious beliefs, and lifestyles (Berns). It is
especially important for teachers to understand and respect the many differences that students
bring to the classroom, without passing judgment or bias. Students education may differ based
on their cultural norms and teachers need to be educated on the challenges that may bring. It
would bring a lot of value to the teachers if they sought out a course on cultural competence. The
courses curriculum may provide insight and understanding of the different cultural beliefs of
the students at their school.
Cultural Assimilation is also defined as the process whereby a minority (subordinate)
cultural group takes on the characteristics of the majority (dominant) cultural group (Berns).
Students who attend school with peers of the majority cultural group often culturally assimilate

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to the majority group as to blend in with their peers. It is important for teachers to understand
and appreciate their differences so students feel validated and value their culture.
Curriculum for All Learners
As the teacher, it is imperative to learn how each student understands what they are being
taught. Do they learn better visually? Do they learn by kinesthetic? Are they audible learners?
These learning styles play a significant factor in the way each student learns. The professional
educator needs to be aware of which learning style each student learns best by as not all people
learn the exact same way. Some students may need extra help explaining and understanding an
assignment or lesson in addition to group instruction.
Teacher assessment is an extremely important key factor in the education of each child.
Teachers may use assessment tools in planning assignments that will accommodate different
learning styles as well as a guide to determine what areas students excel, and what areas may
need some improvement. At the beginning of the school year, as the teacher is learning about
each students capabilities and current knowledge, this is the time they should begin to determine
which students may need more or less help during the school year. It is important for the teacher
to know their resources in how to help any child who may be falling behind or struggling in any
given area(s). It will benefit all students greatly if they have an unlimited amount of support at
home and have someone who is willing and able to help with homework. Not all students have
that advantage and may fall behind other students who do have the support, help, and motivation
outside of the classroom. Continuous reoccurring assessments throughout the school year will
help the teacher know just how much each student is learning and retaining.

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It is the obligation of all professional educators to keep students educational success the
number one priority in the academic setting. Students need to know that they have the strength
and ability to learn and be reminded that their preferred learning style may vary from those of
their peers. Students need to know that their teachers will hold them to high expectations and the
key to their success is through hard work and motivation. Students need to feel welcomed and
appreciated when they step foot into their school and as a future educator it is important to
remember all students come from different backgrounds and may practice different traditions
that will be honored and respected within the school community. Diversity may provide many
opportunities for growth and learning within the classroom, for both students and teachers alike.

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References

Berns, Roberta M. (2010). Child, School, Community: Socialization and Support. (9th Ed.).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Print.