Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 1

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Heather Cooper

Professor Doug Rapley

EDUC 220 Diversity in the Schools

Fall 2017
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Statement of Informed Beliefs

As an educator, I will have the privilege of coming into contact with students and parents

from every sort of different background. It’s important, not just as educators but also as people,

to embrace and celebrate all of those differences. This essay will address my views on diversity

in the classroom, and how that diversity leads to students with different learning styles,

expectations, and educational priorities.

All Students Can Learn

One of the greatest aspects of teaching elementary school is how willing and able most of

the students are to learn new ideas. Every students learns a bit differently; those that struggle

with certain concepts might have a more difficult time in school, and might need a little more

one-on-one time with a teacher before they are able to fully grasp the subject. Every student has

the ability to learn a concept, and it is the teacher’s responsibility to determine what the student

is struggling with, to figure out the best way to help them understand, and to make sure the

student is able to apply that knowledge to other areas.

I feel like one of the most important things I can accomplish is to become skilled at

identifying what learning styles each of my students uses, and coming up with alternatives to

help those who are struggling to grasp a concept. In class and out of class, I want my students to

know that the primary focus is on them and making sure they are getting something out of

school. While in class, I want to put a large focus on how significant learning is, and how

knowledge can shape our future. My students will understand to have respect for every

individual’s learning process, as well as self-accountability, and that it’s never okay to impede a

peer’s chance to learn. I hope to have a classroom that can work together harmoniously, with

respect for one another.

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Teacher’s Expectations

Educators understand the importance of the knowledge that they are trying to teach their

students- it’s normal for them to have high expectations for their students as well as themselves.

We all want to do well at our jobs, and the best indication of that is being able to see how

successful our students are at learning the material; however, sometimes those high expectations

can influence their ability to learn in several different ways.

First, the teacher might put too much pressure on the student to learn the material,

causing the student to feel like they are not intelligent if they do not understand. The teacher

might need to take a step back and consider why the student is not understanding; is the material

presented in a way he doesn’t understand? Does the teacher need to rework the assignment or

subject material to give the student a fresh perspective? Second, for those teachers that have high

expectations for themselves, they too reach a higher stress level. A lot of the times, the teacher

brings that stress into the classroom without even realizing it. A higher stress environment for the

students and the teacher can lead to a difficult time staying on task, as well as controlling

tempers and emotions. Teachers are human too, they mess up, they have bad days, but they also

need to try to keep that out of the classroom as much as possible to create an environment

conducive to learning.

Educational goals are an important part of a teacher’s and a student’s daily lives. They

are a great way to track progress, and to promote a habitat of success. Students respond well to

seeing their progress throughout the year; they know when they will complete a specific subject,

what will be coming next, and can gear themselves up to completing more and more goals. Goals

are a great way to increase a student’s feeling of self-efficacy. Teachers are important role

models for kids, so it’s important for them to be able to promote good habits, like goal keeping.
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Social Ecology

An educated world is a prosperous world. Education is the most basic foundation for the

continuation of our civilization. An issue a lot of teachers face with their students is helping them

understand why learning is so important; students can’t always connect what they are learning

with how it applies to their own lives. Kids oftentimes only focus on what directly affects them-

their family, community, and peers (Berns, 2007). One of the most significant impacts a teacher

can have on a student is showing them how knowledge drives our world, and how that

knowledge relates to their life and their future. By connecting what they are learning with their

own lives and their own experiences, teachers can have a greater impact on the student’s desire

to learn.

Given that kids focus more on their own social circle, it’s easy to understand how

impactful their families, communities, and cultures have on their ability and desire to learn.

Firstly, a family that promotes active learning, especially from a young age, are more likely to

produce a student who is excited about learning; on the other hand, a family that doesn’t spend

that quality time with their child, teaching them the basics, is more likely to have a student who

is not as focused or interested in learning. Secondly, a community that offers activities for young

and older kids that give them a chance to test their knowledge with their peers or explore new

ideas are playing a big role in helping kids experience the fun side of learning. Lastly, where a

child grows up and the culture they identify with is extremely significant. Their culture gives

them an idea of what is socially acceptable, what kind of behavior is expected, and what is

important as a whole. A culture that makes education a priority is more likely to reward those

who do well in school, and push their children to succeed.

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Cultural Diversity

One of the greatest things about modern day America is the diversity we experience in

our everyday lives. Many cultures have found a home in this country, and many of our children

have such a rich cultural and ethnic background. Having a child of a different ethnicity or from a

separate culture in the classroom is a great opportunity to not only teach tolerance and

acceptance, but to also give the student’s a real world perspective on differing cultures; cultural

diversity is something that can be celebrated in the classroom. As a teacher, I would make sure

that my student’s know that their cultures and ethnic history is important to me by allowing them

the opportunity to share what makes them unique.

Cultural pluralism allows for those of a culture differing from the “norm” to peacefully

coexist without losing their cultural values. Cultural assimilation pinpoints those differences in

societies and works to change them to better fit what is culturally “normal” or “acceptable.” Our

goal in our modern society should always be for cultural pluralism to reign. What kind of world

would this be if everyone were the same, with the same set of beliefs and values? We need to

appreciate the variation we get to experience, the new perspectives and fresh ideas. We are all

living on one planet together, and our children are the future of our world. Shouldn’t we all do

our best to make sure those children are well-informed and well-intentioned?

Curriculum for all Learners

One of the best qualities a teacher, and a prospective teacher, has is the ability to make

adjustment when things don’t always go as planned. We have our detailed lesson plans and all of

our intentions on what exactly it is we want to accomplish, but when working with a group of

20-30 younger students we need to be prepared for the unexpected. Since every student learns

differently, and every year a new batch of students comes in with a different collective
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personality, we will find that best laid plans often go awry. Having the ability to make those last

minute adjustments in lesson plans and curriculum is imperative. A great way to show your

readiness and willingness to teach each student a way that works for them is to have multiple

lesson plans and assignments that cover the same topic. What worked in last year’s class may

need to be put to the side, and we may have to draw out the old dusty lesson plan that we haven’t

used in a long time. It’s important to be able to gauge your student’s receptiveness to your

methods of teaching and to adjust according, instead of expecting them to adjust to you.

Quality teacher assessments are a great way to benchmark not only how you are doing

as a teacher, but also how you are doing as a fellow educator. Sometimes we are unable to see

why our classroom is not being run as smoothly as it previously was, and sometimes we can’t

understand why our students are not performing as well on tests as they are in the classroom

setting. Teacher assessments provide the teacher with a good baseline to help adjust their

instructional delivery. We need to view those assessments as an opportunity to provide our

students with the best educational experience they can get.

It’s important to me that my students are all having the same opportunities to improve,

and that every single one of them are leaving my classroom with the sense that they have

succeeded. I don’t believe in basing results only off one test. A lot of times, students who do not

test well will show great aptitude in completing assignments and bookwork, but will not be able

to show those results in a one-size-fits-all standardized test. For those students who are not

showing steady improvement, I will make sure they receive alternate assignments and separate

study sessions when able. What they are able to quickly memorize is not as important as what

they are able to actually learn and understand, so that they can build a steady foundation to

success.
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References

Berns, R.M. (2007). Child, family, school, community: Socialization and support (7th ed.).

Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.