Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Sometimes the little things can mean so much....

In the morning I have an education class called Multiculturalism in American Schools. In this class, we discussed diversity in classrooms. The diversity can range from race and gender, all the way to socioeconomic status.This being said, an Erie news paper released a status that stated that 70% of The children in their district were at the poverty level. This problem affects not only the students who are dealing with this at home but also the teachers at school. Teachers need to be sensitive to children and their needs. All issues at home are not the same and the intensity of the problem can range greatly. Some families are just tight on money while others have no money top eat at all. This problem is being addressed slowly but surely. Erie now offers free breakfast and lunches to all students. This is an awesome idea because not only do children get to be feed but also no one can feel left out because their parents do not have the money to buy them food. As a future teacher this makes me aware that there are a wide range of problems that we as teachers are going to have to address in classrooms. In my Child Development 2 course we discussed that maybe teachers can buy each child a comb and make it a routine in the morning that each child brushes their hair. This is a good idea because no one feels left out and that also may be the only time that child gets an opportunity to do any type of self grooming. Another thing we discussed, if able to, for beginning of the year a teacher may give a little first day gift. Something as simple as a pair of socks or maybe closer to the winter a pair of mittens. This is simple but, to a child in need, can mean so much. Do you think these things are good ideas? Do you think there is any other way we as future teachers can help?

7 comments:

  1. I find this topic very interesting because of the increase in awareness on this topic just letely. I was talking to a teacher who graduated from Edinboro many years ago, and she never had to take the Multiculturalsim class. Diversity is becoming a bigger issue, and it will only continue to increase as we become educators ourselves. It is important for us to know about these situations that we will encounter before stepping into the field so that we can be as prepared as possible. That means that we must take it upon ourselves to be as prepared as we can for all of the issues that may come up over our career in education.

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  2. Great topic and timely. I know your heart is in the right place, but instead of reaching into your own purse or pocket, we as teachers need to seek out sources within the community: churches, boys and girls clubs, Office Max and WalMart donate school supplies, Career Link and Perseus House have outreach programs, not to mention, the school's own PTSA. When we do this, our classroom grows. The key to any school's success is community involvement. Great topic.

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  3. This was a very good idea that you have presented. I'm taking Child Development 2 with McGinnis and she has also told us some of these ideas. I think it would solve a lot without making the "disadvantage children" feeling embarassed. I'm sure you could even pull them outside the room (when a lone) and do the same type of thing.

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  4. I find it interesting that just because a status is attributed to a group of people that it makes them less human or even less capable. I find it anything but the truth, poor, rich, black, white, Asian, crippled, it doesn't matter, what matters is the person inside despite it all. I can sympathize with helping but you need to do it in a way that encourages independence and confidence. A motherly approach might put off some students and may bring up ridicule to them.

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  5. I think you make a very good point Demi. I think that too often children of unfortunate circumstance are overlooked and nothing is done for them.

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  6. ^Kayla: I find that the multiculturalism class is much needed now-an-days. I learn something new every single day on how to deal with diversity.

    ^BalddaddieTeach: Hopefully, more and more programs like the ones you mentioned will be around for whenever I am teaching because I have high hopes of making sure no student feels inferior to another and that we give each student the best chance to succeed.

    ^Lis: I take the same class. She brings up very good points that I would never have thought about while talking about disadvantaged children. McGinnis makes me think about every possible scenario!

    ^TheAbsolutistsCreed: I respect your opinion. Like you, I do not believe a child is less capable because of their race, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity. However, home lives do affect a child greatly. Some children will come to school behind the "expected" level. In my line of teaching, I will be dealing with the problem during the first years of entering the school. This being said, hopefully these children will not be put off by the approach and not realize that there are any negatively impacting differences between them and a "better off" situation. All i want to do is create an equal learning environment for all my students.

    ^Brett: As all future teachers would hopefully say, I want to be the one to show unfortunate circumstance children that someone cares.

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  7. This topic really interest me! Helping kids who are less fortunate than others is one of the big reasons that I want to be a teacher. Being able to help children out in times of need is so important and there needs to be more reliable sources available.

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