Prompt #2 (Question 5) - The Culturally Competent Teacher…

In America’s society today the schools are becoming more diverse than ever it seems like because the student population is increasing. As the student population is increasing, teachers must treat all students equal, no matter if they are Hispanic, African American, Asian or any student of a different skin color. Teachers must develop culturally and incorporate multicultural viewpoints and apply plans that meet the needs for all students. Teachers of America should always consider of preparing the children to a meaningful, learning environment for all the students in their classroom despite of the children’s race, gender, ethnic heritage or cultural background. Teachers teaching in a diverse classroom must make each and everyone of their students feel comfortable to the classroom and treat them as they would like to be treated.

The challenges I might encounter in collaborating with the parents of my students is teaching in a diverse and poor community I know for a fact that I am going to have more African-American, Spanish, Asians, and maybe even some white students so I have to recognize that these students backgrounds are going to be different among other children that come from other communities. While working at Sand Hill Cove in Providence and with my VIPS experience the last few weeks I have recognized that many students in the second grade classroom, are still learning basic skills and being disciplined. The first week I was there it seemed like they were all very quiet and well behaved. But the last couple weeks I have been going into the classroom, twice a week the children are arguing, not doing their work, calling each other names, etc. If the teacher notices that they are following directions, being well behaved and doing good on their work she will reward them by giving them a one dollar bill. If she notices they are misbehaving she will give them a punishment paper. As far as this goes I think I would do the same thing in my diverse classroom because this is the only way that I will be able to get the students to pay attention, follow directions and pass their work. Also, I notice their teacher Mrs. Summer raises her voice to the students. The first week I was in the classroom I thought that was very wrong what she did because I know I will never raise my voice to my students in my classroom. However, this is the only way that she can actually get the students attention and to listen to her because while I was working with them on reading cards last week, they were fooling around, not paying attention to what I was telling them to do, getting up and down, basically just misbehaving. I know teachers that teach in a diverse class room don’t want to yell at the students but if they don’t the students will not get anywhere so this is what I am going have to do in my classroom.

In my classroom I would like to teach each student as an individual and get to know each student and their families. The only way I would be able to this is have a student and family night in the class room. I would provide fun activates and games for the parents and their children to play. Offer tasty desserts and drinks. It would be a way to see how the parents interact with their children, to see if they help their children learn besides depending on the teachers to teach them in school. I understand that these children are from poor, diverse communities and may not receive much attention outside of school by their parents like other students. These students may not attend preschool, or ever get read a story to them at home, because their parents have no interest in their education and just depend on to send them to school and have the teachers teach them. But in reality these parents should really care for their children and teach them their ABC’s.., 123’s…, their colors, read them stories, etc. so that their children are well prepared for kindergarten and so on. Don’t these parents want to see their children go far in life, and get and education? I would say the answer to this is No because a lot other these children’s parents really don’t care for them at all, its very heartbreaking. If the student is not behaving in my class or completing their work, I will have to send a note home to their parent to let them know about how their child is doing in school. I would have my student who received a note have their parent reply back and sign it below so I know they got the note from their child. If the parent ignores my note, the next step I would have to do is make a phone call an if they don’t answer leave a message. I would like for the parent to know how their child is behaving, or acting in school and if he or she are not doing their work. For example, the student of room 106 at Sand Hill Cove is not completing his work in class and not doing any of his homework at home. I will not be able to pass this student quoted Mrs. Summer. She told me that she had called his mom at home and wrote the mother a note but she has not responded to neither. The next move is telling the principal and sees if there is anyway he can get in touch with the student's mother. I totally agree with this and as well do the same in my classroom. The students in my classroom are very bright, but are provided no attention or no extra help with their homework at home. They have no assistance at home and no one guiding them outside of school to tell them they have to do well in school so they can move on. But this does not apply to all the students who go to a diverse school. Believe it or not some of these students do have parents that do care for them and help them outside of school with their education. It’s really depressing that some of these students don’t have parents that don’t care for them; you wish that they would just help their child understand the basics and teach them how to spell their name, how to behave in school. When the students come to school they are in all there glory because they are learning and it’s what some of them want to do, they enjoy going to school and being with their friends. I have to understand that many of my students’ backgrounds are different and have to try to communicate with the parents as much as possible. This is the only way I am going to be able to encounter in collaborating with the parents of my students and helping the children move on.

First Prompt-My First Few Days Volunteering in a Elementary School

Today was my second experience as a volunteer in an elementary school in Providence but today for the first time I finally got to meet the teacher and students. A few days before I started my VIPS tutoring I had to take a ride by the elementary school I will be volunteering at because I wanted to make sure where I was going and I was not familiar with the area or neighborhood. *Sand Hill Cove Elementary School where I am tutoring is surrounded by a few other schools. It was a bit confusing at first and trying to figure out what school I will be at because the name of the school is on one side of the building, with some letters missing so that made it a little difficult trying to figure out if I was at the right school and if I was in the right area but then I finally figured it out. Sand Hill Cove is located in a very unpleasant and diverse neighborhood and alot different from the neighborhood I grew up in. While driving down the side streets before I entered the school parking lot I scrutinized the neighborhood around it. Down the side street I recognized a small convenient store that is all locked up and surrounded by bars. Right across from Sand Hill Cove Elementary School there are low-income housings and as soon as I pull into the parking lot I came across something I am very unfamiliar with. There is a white, van that is enclosed by a cage. These things are definitely not something I recognize in my neighborhood or where I grew up. Do to these observations I began to think to my self that I am in a very unpleasant/unsafe neighborhood. My nerves become a little tenser at this moment but at the same time I am also excited to start the new learning experience and working in a classroom.

My first day in entering the elementary school I was a little nervous. Before I could enter the school I had to press a button next to the doors so the office could let me in. This is something new and different to me because during my years of attending public schools nobody had to press a button before stepping into the school. As soon as I stepped into the first set of doors to Sand Hill Cove I was more excited and not as nervous anymore. As I walk through the doors I get a breeze to a fresh, clean environment. The school is very clean and looks like an ordinary, everyday school. It’s just like the schools I attended and that everyone else does. I did the original routine that all schools require when you are a new guest to the school; I walk into the building and sign in at the main office. But I do realize that the halls of the school are dim and not that bright. The secretaries and the teachers welcomed me to the school by saying “hello” with a smile on their face. It made me feel more comfortable and satisfied that this is going to be a safe place after all. Then, I got a short lesson by the literacy coach on exactly what learning activities I would be doing with my very own students.

Even though today was my second day as a volunteer in the elementary school it was my first actual day I got to meet the teacher and students I will be working with. When I entered into the second grade classroom each and every student all had a big smile on their face, they were adorable. Their teacher, *Mrs. Summer was working with them on words and sounds. She would call on a student one at a time and she would have them go up to the board and put their index card into the correct spot. The students seemed pretty focused on what they were learning and actually paying attention to the teacher, they were really following directions well as I was watching them after I steped into the classroom. You think they would have been distracted because I had just stepped into the classroom and was a new person to them, I was surprised. As they were finishing up their activity I was listening and observing the classroom. The classroom is a decent size for 20 students and a teacher. There are six tables in the middle of the class room that the students sit at. On the tables are their green notebooks and folders and white or blue pencil baskets in the center of the table where the students put their supplies in. Also, I noticed on the whiteboard the teacher had put math problems for the students to do and to complete in their notebook. Around the room there are many words written all over the white board, the alphabet, posters. So, I know that these teachers want to have thier students succeed and prepare them for the future. Right after they finished their activity there was a fire alarm and we were outside for almost a half-hour. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to work with the students because of this situation. But during the fire drill Mrs. Summer made her students sit in a single line. She recommended to her students to be quiet and sit with their hands folded in their lap. If they followed her directions they would be rewarded with a one dollar bill when they returned back to the classroom. Some of the students sat thier patiently while others were distracted by things around them. She began to raise her voice at the students and I was not pleased by how she reacted to them in such a mean way. As I looked at them when we returned back to the classroom and they were back at their seats some of the children look so happy to be at school while some of them look sad and it makes you feel so bad for them. On Thursday I will be going again and I can not wait. I am extremely eager and looking forward to working with the students in the classroom and in a teacher environment.

The star (*) indicates "made-up" names for the school and teacher. This is to keep the privacy of the real names.

About Me

Hi- my name is Jessica and I am now a junior at Rhode Island College. I am majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. So far this semester my classes are going well. In my free time I love going to the beach, taking walks along the beach, being outside, going to get ice-cream, and just having fun. I also enjoy skiing and running too.