Pt1420 Unit 3 Assignment

Describe how you will promote sensitivity to racial, cultural, religious, and ethnic differences in your position.

It is our differences that make us unique and it is our similarities that make us strong. In science classes it can be difficult to talk about different cultures, but I think it’s important to create an inviting classroom atmosphere. It is human nature to associate with people who like you, talk like you and act like you. It is my job to create a culturally responsive classroom. Heterogeneous grouping is one way I combat this human instinct. When students are grouped based on their varying abilities, it completely negates the student’s ability to group themselves based on who they are friends with and what is most comfortable

to them. Another way I create an accepting atmosphere is I allow the students to share stories about their home life. Every Monday we spend the first five minutes of class doing our warm-up and sharing stories about our weekend. Some students will talk about the church camp they went to, some students will talk about their latest hunt and some students will talk about the new movie they saw over the weekend. Throughout the year I have found that students who didn’t know each other at the beginning of the year are really great friends now. By allowing students to share stories on Monday, my students have been able to find common interests despite their different cultures, religions and ethnicities.

What are your three most important reasons for wanting to work with students in the Garland ISD?

The first reason I want to work with the students in Garland ISD is because I love to teach. I love seeing the students faces light up when they finally get a concept they’ve struggled with. I love being a part of their lives. I have the ability to help mold the future of our country and there is nothing more rewarding than teaching.

The second reason I want to work with the students in Garland ISD is because of the schools. My Principal in high school would always say “Remember where you’re from and what you represent”. This quote impacted me in such a way that I now tell my students this. The school I went to, the teachers that taught me and the administration that made it all possible is what allowed me to be so successful. I truly believe that exceptional schools have exceptional students. The schools are set apart from other schools in the area. Multiple schools in Garland ISD has received awards that directly reflects the work of the staff and the students. For example, Garland High School was chosen as a pilot school for CREST. Through this study and the 1:1 technology initiative, students are given a better education. There are also multiple extra-curricular activities that allow students to express their interests in a safe and monitored environment. These extracurricular activities allow teacher-student interactions outside of the classroom. One of my favorite after school activities is going to see my students participate in activities. Without these programs I wouldn’t be able to build the type of relationships with my students that some of them really need. Garland ISD provides so many opportunities for teachers to support their students outside of the classroom.

The third reason I want to work with the students in Garland ISD is because my values as a teacher line up with the mission of Garland ISD.

It’s not always about what you learn in school, but how you feel when you leave. I want to help mold my students into model citizens, but I also want them to be lifelong learners. I understand that most students don’t care to learn my subjects. They ask the same question “when will I ever use this in life?” I completely understand where the students are coming from. I didn’t like all of the subjects I had to take in high school, but without those subjects I wouldn’t have been curious. I currently teach biology and there has been one subject that all of my students have been completely interested in. During our genetics lesson we watched a “Ted Talk” about genetically modifying babies. My students were so interested in this because it designing the child you want will be a thing of the future. I rearranged my lesson plans and we devoted more time to talking about making designer babies. We talked about how it worked and what things could/couldn’t be possible to do. We then had a small class debate where the students were able to present their arguments and defend it. Through this impromptu lesson, I was able to spark an interest in my kids. I felt like this was a crucial lesson for my students because I allowed them to delve deeper into something they were interested in. This is what creates lifelong learners. By showing the kids that this more out there than the mitochondria, they are more likely to explore other areas of biology both in school and when they are out of

school.

What three things would you most want to know about the students with whom you will work?

The first thing I like to know about my students is how they learn. Who is a kinesthetic learner, who is an auditory learner and who is a visual learner? This is key for the design of my lesson plans for the beginning of the year. I cannot be an effective educator if I do not cater to the needs of all my students.
The second think I like to know about my students is their interests. What do they do on the weekends, what sports do they play and what are their hobbies? This is vital to designing engaging lessons that sparks a student’s interest.
The third think I like to know about my students is what their home life is like. Do they get enough parental support, are their basic needs met or are they helping raise their siblings because they live in a single parent household? I cannot meet a child’s educational needs when their basic needs at home are not met. If a student is not comfortable sharing this information, that is okay. However, this information gives me insight into why they haven’t completed their homework or why they are always falling asleep in class.