Room 222 Week 3 Analysis

Rafe approaches teaching music differently than a typical music class. He allows kids to practice during recess so that it is open to kids who actually want to participate and will not be a disruption. He gives guitar lessons as well as singing lessons, which is done with burnt CDs which the kids listen to them until they get better at hearing the notes. Rafe even learns with the kids because he knows that he has to be a role model. He also knows that students who take the initiative to learn how to play an instrument are also learning about “...discipline, responsibility, teamwork, sacrifice, practice, correcting mistakes, listening, and time management” (Esquith, 2007, p. 107).

Once Christmas arrives, Rafe’s students learn about the importance of helping others because it is the right thing to do, not because you feel you have to. Quiet humility is proven to be rewarding through the students hard efforts. It learned in the countless hours of rehearsing Christmas carols, collecting clothing for the homeless, and setting up for the evening. Community service makes a kind person, and being involved encourages them to give back to their communities. Which

is proven by all the previous graduated students who keep coming back every year.
Of course, one of the most important parts of Room 56 is the Shakespeare class.

There are countless lessons to be learn - how to overcome challenges, development of hard-work ethic, responsibility and communication. First, to overcome any major challenges, Rafe makes it a volunteer project so kids who are not interested do not feel forced to participate. The students who are involved then meet four times a week for an hour. He purchases the plays on CDs and pauses at certain parts to help the students understand what they just listened to. Rafe believes understanding what is being said will allow the students to memorize the words easier. Once parts have been assigned in the play, each student gets a burnt CD to take home and study their parts by listening to it as if they were listening to their favorite pop

song.
The important thing to learn from Rafe is that there will be times when those who want to be teachers will doubt themselves and that is okay. Also that there is always room for improvement. Within a classroom, no two kids learn the same, so it is crucial to have that one-on-one time individually and help their personal growth. And with this, children depend on us as educators and friends so those pursuing a teaching career have to make sure they are a dependable person because they will also be a role model. Teachers have to go that extra mile to make sure students are getting the best they deserve. This could mean sacrificing their free time to revise lesson plans, create study session or create after school programs that benefit their development as a child.
In the film viewed during class Rafe makes a statement that there are “three groups” in the classroom: those who get it and love it, those who do not get it and hate it and then the students who are in-between who need to be swayed to love it. Within this, Rafe uses his methods to account for individual learning. This can be noted the way he is devoted to his students. Through his after school programs, one-on-one conferencing over essays, practicing of developing good character and more. Rafe takes the time to ensure each student feels special and know that they are more than the bad environment they grow up in as well as worthy of a good education.