Blog 5

As a white male who comes from the backwoods of northern Rhode Island, not all of my students and parents of my students are going to look like me or have had the same life experiences. However, it is my job as a future teacher to realize that learning comes through collaboration and the willingness to listen to other’s opinions and ideas. You cannot be an effective teacher without being part of the bigger picture; the classroom, the school, the community and our society. Some challenges that I expect to have to face is talking to other teachers, parents and members of the community about effective ways to teach their children. Not everyone agrees on everything, but I feel as long as there is an understanding that everyone’s opinion is valued that there will be able to be an effective learning environment for the students. Also, in talking and collaborating with others, I accept that some, if not many will speak a different language, have different morals and different expectations of education.

I believe that most effective way to handle these situations and show respect to the parents is to not just listen, but hear what they have to say. It is a teacher’s job to be willing to make change and to grow as a person and an educator. Parents and members of the community can play a very important role in this personal growth. We can never ignore what someone has to say, even if we don’t agree. We have to hear every word and take it and use it to become the best teacher we can possibly be. It’s not to say that you have to change your teaching style or morals based on what someone else says, however every opinion and criticism can be used to learn and build up our experience. The teacher in the kindergarten class I am tutoring in says she has to speak to parents all the time that do not communicate well in English and parents who are upset with the perception of things in the classroom. She says she uses it to better understand her students and it helps her be a better teacher. She said that for some of her students, this year was the first year they have seen a book. So it works both ways, not only do we have to hear the parents and members of the community, but we need to encourage them to get involved in their children’s education. Encouragement at home to learn and to want to educate yourself can go a long way in a child’s life.