ADVOCATE
When
I think of what it means to be an advocate for my students the first thing I
think of is, what can I do in my classroom to make sure all my students
succeed? I want to be sure that
while we are learning throughout the school year that none of my students fall
through the cracks. So, if I want
all of my students to grow academically in the one school year that I have to
teach them, what am I going to do?
I want to be sure that I have open communication, have a positive
environment, current technology, expose my students to other cultures, and
allow them to be goal oriented.
Open communication begins with the parents. I send home folders to the parents, which has current graded work and any upcoming events in the classroom that I would like the parents to be aware of. Another way to keep parents informed is through e-mails, phone calls, notes home, as well as parent-teacher conferences that are held twice a year. These are all ways to keep the parents informed on what is taking place in our classroom as well as with their child. Lastly, twice a trimester I have a conference with each student. We review their progress report and report card, as well as, set goals for the school year. This is a way I can check up on my students to see if there is any way that I can help them throughout the school year.
I am always striving for a positive environment in my classroom. I like to be sure I am always treating and speaking to my students in a positive manner and at the same time I expect them to speak and treat me and their classmates with respect. I always want my students to feel free to speak in my class, which creates a low anxiety level. Having a low anxiety level in our classroom allows them the freedom to participate and they always seem to enjoy participating in class.
Even though at times I feel that I am still learning about technology, I try my best to still utilize it whenever possible in class. Our current society is so technology driven and I know my students are very advanced when it comes to understanding technology. So I like to incorporate it whenever possible. I make power point presentations to introduce new topics, we watch videos from YouTube or the web, look up pictures to clarify something we are studying, listen to music from iTunes or YouTube, visit interactive websites, and I use it to find lessons or activity ideas. The students also use the computer to do research and type papers. We were recently studying Christopher Columbus setting sail to explore new and faster trade routes to Asia. We were discussing the types of ships used during the 1500’s. They then went onto the computers and found the names of the ships used by Christopher Columbus as well as what they looked like and what life was like on the ships while sailing.
As a teacher, it is also important to expose my students to other cultures. Our school environment is 99% Latino, so it is vital that they come to understand, accept, and appreciate other cultures. Some ways that I do this is by having my students learn about different African Americans that have contributed to our society. We also learn and celebrate other cultures on their special holidays, like Chinese New Year. Also, while studying Social Studies I like them to personally feel connected to other cultures we may be studying. One way we have done this is when we were studying India, Greece, and Rome we have brought in food to celebrate their culture by tasting some of their food. The students have always enjoyed these days.
Lastly, as an advocate for my students I also find it important for them to be goal oriented. I want to see them succeed past my classroom walls. Every year at the beginning of the school year I have them write a letter to themselves expressing goals they have for the year and beyond. We place the letters in an envelope and seal it; they do not open the letter until the last week of the school year. During our teacher-student conferences I ask them to think about what they wrote and have them reflect on their letter by telling me if they feel they are meeting their goals. If not, I ask them if there is any way I can assist them in the school year to help them meet their goals.
Open communication begins with the parents. I send home folders to the parents, which has current graded work and any upcoming events in the classroom that I would like the parents to be aware of. Another way to keep parents informed is through e-mails, phone calls, notes home, as well as parent-teacher conferences that are held twice a year. These are all ways to keep the parents informed on what is taking place in our classroom as well as with their child. Lastly, twice a trimester I have a conference with each student. We review their progress report and report card, as well as, set goals for the school year. This is a way I can check up on my students to see if there is any way that I can help them throughout the school year.
I am always striving for a positive environment in my classroom. I like to be sure I am always treating and speaking to my students in a positive manner and at the same time I expect them to speak and treat me and their classmates with respect. I always want my students to feel free to speak in my class, which creates a low anxiety level. Having a low anxiety level in our classroom allows them the freedom to participate and they always seem to enjoy participating in class.
Even though at times I feel that I am still learning about technology, I try my best to still utilize it whenever possible in class. Our current society is so technology driven and I know my students are very advanced when it comes to understanding technology. So I like to incorporate it whenever possible. I make power point presentations to introduce new topics, we watch videos from YouTube or the web, look up pictures to clarify something we are studying, listen to music from iTunes or YouTube, visit interactive websites, and I use it to find lessons or activity ideas. The students also use the computer to do research and type papers. We were recently studying Christopher Columbus setting sail to explore new and faster trade routes to Asia. We were discussing the types of ships used during the 1500’s. They then went onto the computers and found the names of the ships used by Christopher Columbus as well as what they looked like and what life was like on the ships while sailing.
As a teacher, it is also important to expose my students to other cultures. Our school environment is 99% Latino, so it is vital that they come to understand, accept, and appreciate other cultures. Some ways that I do this is by having my students learn about different African Americans that have contributed to our society. We also learn and celebrate other cultures on their special holidays, like Chinese New Year. Also, while studying Social Studies I like them to personally feel connected to other cultures we may be studying. One way we have done this is when we were studying India, Greece, and Rome we have brought in food to celebrate their culture by tasting some of their food. The students have always enjoyed these days.
Lastly, as an advocate for my students I also find it important for them to be goal oriented. I want to see them succeed past my classroom walls. Every year at the beginning of the school year I have them write a letter to themselves expressing goals they have for the year and beyond. We place the letters in an envelope and seal it; they do not open the letter until the last week of the school year. During our teacher-student conferences I ask them to think about what they wrote and have them reflect on their letter by telling me if they feel they are meeting their goals. If not, I ask them if there is any way I can assist them in the school year to help them meet their goals.