MaryBeth Chrustowski

Journal One

Willow Woods Elementary is located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, northeast of Detroit.

The school sits in a large neighborhood north of fifteen mile and east of Van Dyke. Willow

Woods is a part of the Warren Consolidated school district. The district includes fourteen

elementary schools, four middle schools, and seven high schools all within proximity to each

other. The ethnicity at Willow and its surrounding community is diverse; however the Arabic

and Chaldean communities have thrived within the area in the recent years. African Americans,

Caucasians, and Hispanics also help make up the wide range of ethnicities represented within

this school district. The majority of families attending Willow Woods Elementary live in single

residences in the surrounding neighborhoods or in apartment complexes in Macomb County.

Transportation to and from school varies from student to student. About half of the school’s

student population is transported to school by district busing. Most of the remaining students are

driven to and from school or walk from the surrounding neighborhoods. There are also a select

few that are transported to and from school by the city bus. These students tend to be the students

that travel from out of district areas, such as those students who attend from Wayne County.

Willow Woods sits in a community that has rich history. It has grown over time to meet

the needs of those that live and thrive there. The constant growth has produced a wide range of

community assets to offer their students and families. Directly on the schools property is a large

playground that offers a variety of outdoor play equipment such as swing sets, slides, and jungle

gyms. The park also has a basketball court and a baseball field. The school sits just about a

quarter mile away from Van Dyke which provides direct access to the Van Dyke expressway.

Such things as grocery stores, shopping plazas, movie theaters, fitness centers, gas stations,
convenience stores, and restaurants (both dine-in and fast food) can all be accessed within just a

few short minutes. Protective services are within an “arm’s reach” of Willow. The police station

is three miles away while the fire station is just over a mile away. The nearest hospital, St. John

Macomb, is just over four miles away. The Sterling Heights public library sits three miles from

the school. Three churches one Catholic, one Baptist, and one Lutheran also sit within just a few

short miles of the school. All of the above are assets to the community, resources in the

community, they help those that live in the surrounding community thrive and maintain a

livelihood.

Even though every community has assets to offer its population, every school also faces

challenges. Over the past year and a half Willow Woods Elementary was declared a Title One

school. The school faced difficult times and is now putting into action a school improvement

plan. The district has seen a growth in low achieving students, students with special needs,

language barriers between teachers and students, and students who simply just need more

assistance than can be provided to them given the circumstances and limited resources. These

issues make it challenging for teachers to move forward in instruction when they are constantly

back peddling, or even beginning from a point in which should have already been achieved by

students within the home setting. This can often alter test scores and make it difficult for teachers

to prepare students for state exams.

I have learned that all communities have both assets and challenges that it faces.

However, as a future teacher it is important to remember to seek out the good in all instances. As

teachers we have the wonderful opportunity to use the resources that surround us to aid in our

instruction and classroom development. Simple things like being able to take a class to the

playground or park to teach a lesson helps us break apart from the normal classroom setting.
Using available resources and communicating with the surrounding community helps us to not

only be a teacher in a particular school inside a specific community, but rather we become an

active community member. We become role models to our students, parents, and peers.

However, in order to accomplish this we must take the time and effort to get to know our

students, their families, and the community they live in. Before meeting the students and their

families we can immerse ourselves in their community. Instead of going to our own local grocery

store, shop at theirs. Visit their local police and fire station. Pump gas at one of the community

corner gas stations. Introduce oneself to the local librarian. Visit places that allow you to get to

know the population and their surroundings. After the initial meeting of our students have them

do a project that allows them to express themselves, their families, and their favorite aspects

about the community. If it is possible, have a meet and greet with the parents. Make your

presence known. Show the families that you are there with an open door and are always looking

out for the best interest of the child. Learning with community observations can teach us as

future teachers how to connect and build relationships with students and families. Showing

interest in what our students and their families value, shows that we care and want to be involved

in their child’s success.