The Role of the Community

I live in Anderson. The community seems to be greatly concerned about it's children. The Anderson Center for the Arts has art classes for younger children as well as teens to guide their artistic pursuits. They even offer a class for children with disabilities. The public library offers many educational opportunities for children. They hold parents' reading to their children book nights, science activity days, and other after school programs. The local YMCA offers health classes for families and children. Many of these events are free, which encourages more family involvement. Also, Anderson University has been great at offering programs about international students, encouraging them to bring in ethnic foods and their life stories. Several churches have tutoring and after schools programs for children. 

What I find interesting in Anderson is that the community is interested and active in helping children, but I feel that the schools themselves do very little to reach out to the community. If I were to be an advocate on the inside to work with the community, I would hold tutoring in the schools and invite the community in to help. I would send out fliers to interested organizations asking for classroom volunteers. I love the idea that the community is getting involved with children, but I believe a partnership between the community and schools would boost children's success because all would be on the same page and have similar goals. 

Parent Teacher Conferences

I have to say I was not prepared for the difficult parent teacher conference. For the regular one, I did just fine. I used positive, encouraging words and involved the parents in the conversation. But, during the difficult conference, I was discussing with the parents the strategies I would use to help their son John. Well, I talked about using hands-on materials and manipulatives. The mother flat out asked me, "Can't I just do this at home?" I was floored. I didn't know what to say. Even though this was a mock situation, I cannot think of a better question to have asked. And honestly today, I still do not know how to answer this. I was home-schooled from 7-12th grade. I had 14 brothers and sisters who were younger than me, and I home schooled them as well. So, why couldn't the parent do this stuff at home? What's the difference between them and me? Honestly, I don't see a difference. They could teach this at home. And I used to want to teach my own future children at home. However, since I have been "in the world" and now go to college, I am not going to home school my children. Why not? because I have decided the social aspect of education is a huge help to children in finding and discovering who they are and want to be. But that still does not adequately answer the mom's question. While she could teach him at home, how do I as a teacher say something about my education? I know from my own home schooling experience, it is MUCH better for the parent/caregiver to have the knowledge I now possess to help in their education. Reflecting on my home schooling years, I taught myself how to learn,  but if my foster mother had known what I know now, my education could have been amazing. But how do I say that to a parent without them feeling that I am slapping my education in their face? Hm...food for thought...

Drug and Alcohol Families

How sad! For children in my classroom who will deal with this, it will be extremely important that I get to know families. By building a relationship with parents/caregivers, I would hope to discourage this type of abuse in the home. I do not plan to go in preaching, but rather as a concerned adult. And I am not only concerned about the child, but the abusers as well. I understand addictions. But while I personally have never experienced this type of struggle in using and getting off of these types of drugs, I know there is help out there for those who do struggle. For the parents of my future students, I hope to offer or organize classes and information for those who are struggling. 

This type of abuse in the home can cause children to have many issues that makes if harder for them to learn in the classroom. Children are sensitive to parents/caregivers' emotions and they carry this with them to bed at night and into the classroom the next day. What we might think of as a behavior problem in our students, may just be a child who is disturbed from problems/conflicts at home. Getting to know each child on a personal level is crucial to their success in my classroom. 

Poverty

Wow! The stories I read were very sad. I lived in poverty for many years while I was growing up, so I can relate a little to some of the stories. However, I never had to stay in a shelter. My mom made sure I was able to sleep somewhere at night. 

So why is living in poverty a problem for children? Children living in poverty have trouble having hope for the next day. They may be taking care of their siblings and not able to focus on their studies. They may have parents who have continuous cycles of job/no job which means hungry tummies. Or parents may be in jail. Children in these circumstances don't get enough food, sleep, attention, or love. This can lead to some major setbacks in their development as a person, and a brighter future for tomorrow. 

The next question is, how will I address this in my classroom? Well, since I have some firsthand experience of living in poverty I think I will be able to help my students a lot. For one, I do not feel that I need to "discuss" poverty with my students. I remember when I was in Elementary school and my teachers would talk about how can we help the poor? And I was like, I am right here, but I don't want you to know. My pride was hurt. I knew I was poor, but didn't want my classmates to know. Secondly, for my own students who are in poverty I will attempt to work with the parents/ caregivers, quietly. My goal is to develop a strong relationship with each parent/caregiver. I want them to know I am on their side and am more than willing to help. If that means providing meals, providing resources, providing time for them, I will do it. Thirdly, I understand that some of my students may not be from poverty. But, I do not want to make the students in my classroom who are in poverty  specimens for the rest of the class. I feel like this information could be addressed in my newsletter, and I could request that parents discuss this with their children. Then finally, I want to inspire my children in poverty that they can get out of poverty and they do not have to remain in it. Does it seem hopeless at times? Yes. Does it seem like they will have the money to go to college? No. But I was there. I am not in it. And I am in college. I have to develop relationships with my own students and know their thoughts and feelings about their life and dreams before I can help them. But I want to share my own story with them, and the stories of others who have made it out, so they know life is not hopeless. I want my classroom to be a haven for them if that's what they need. 

Reflection 1

Well, I do not have a specific even in my life that made me decide to enter the education field. My whole life kind of molded me for Education. I spent my years from kindergarten-7th grade in a Christian Private school. I was not in a stable home, and eventually flunked 7th grade. Looking back, I should have been failed sooner, but the teachers just kept passing me on. After 7th grade, I was moved to a foster family, where I was home schooled until I graduated at the age of 20. I had to do a level assessment for their curriculum, which put me back in 5th grade for language arts. Needless-to-say, I was mad. I struggled my first couple of years, but taught myself to learn. It was a sink or swim deal. I chose to swim. However, during my teen years, I was not going to go to college. Because of my foster family's influence, I was going to be a stay-at-home mom and home school my kids. Right before my 21st birthday, I moved back with my birth family. I hated life there and decided I wanted to go to college. I chose education because I figured it would be beneficial once I started home schooling my children. So off to college I went. Out of state. Away from every one. I went there for a year and loved it. Sadly, because it was out of state and a private college, I couldn't afford to return. I came back home, tried a Bible college in Indy, and dropped out the first couple of weeks. The following spring I began at Ball State. Since I have been here, I have changed my mind and ideals about education. I will not be home schooling my children. I am now in education to be the best teacher I can be and hopefully to change education in the future. After what I experienced as a child in education, I want to provide something better to my students. I guess my most drastic change has been in the past two years. I am 25, but began being really affected at the age of 23.