Question #7- teacher identity

Question #6

I haven't had a difficult time communicating with any of the children or teachers in the classroom. It's not as much of a language barrier as it is a communication barrier. A few of the children in the classroom are special needs children and it can be difficult at times to communicate with them. There is one boy who has a very difficult time speaking and when i first started tutoring i couldn't understand him. some of the other children had to tell me what he was saying,but now think I'm starting to understand more and if i have trouble i don't have a problem asking to repeat himself, he is supposed to be practicing speaking clearer. There are a few more children who have a difficult time listening and understanding what you are asking, so I've had to learn how to reword myself so that it is easier for them to understand what I'm saying or asking them to do. As for a language difference, all of the children speak English.

Question #5

Some challenges I would face if I was the teacher of this classroom, some of the problems I might face would be the language barrier. I've noticed when some of the parents come and drop off their children they might not speak English or its not their first language, with makes it difficult to communicate with them. Every Monday and Wednesday the children get to go in the pool. I've noticed several times, when a parent forgets to put at bathing suit and towel in their child's backpack the teacher makes sure to call them or run after them in the hall. In some of the cases its like pulling teeth to get them to bring their bathing suits. She just wants to make sure the kids don't miss out on an activity. If I was in her position I think i would try and do the same thing. I noticed one of the moms dropped off her son and he only had his folder with him, when the teacher ran after the mom to ask if she could grab his bathing suit, she made it seem like it was a huge inconvenience to go home and get it the mom just walked away. Now her son couldn't go swimming. I felt horrible but there really wasn't anything i could do about it. Maybe if this was a situation in my class i would try and keep a few extra bathing suits in the classroom. Another problem i would face if i was the teacher of this classroom would be the lack of participation or effort on the parents side. The teacher sends home a sheet of simple 2 minute exercises they want the parents to help the children do, on several occasions i've come into the class and she was complaining about how the parents don't fill it out but still send it back with the children. They might be busy at the end of the day, but it only takes 2 minutes and its to benifit your child so i don't understand it.

Question #4

I come from white middle class neighborhood with almost no crime. I've always considered my neighborhood very safe where little has gone wrong or upset the balance. There was maybe two African American students in my elementary school, so we were very sheltered as children. My family has been pretty well off with money we only really struggled once and my parents kept it from my sister and I, so not to worry us. I am very greatful I grow up in such a safe enviornment but at the same time I was not very exposed to diversity.
When I started tutoring it was alittle difficult to relate to some of the kids. They don't get to have some of the experiences i had as a child. For instance, when they came back from February vacation and the teacher asked the students what they did over vacation a lot of the students said they went to the park or watched tv. When i was a child my mom used to take us to museum and on trips, but when you think about it a lot if not all of these kids parents can't afford to do the things i did as a child. It makes me sad but there isn't much i can do. It has taken some time to get used to and think of things to talk about with some of the students, but i enjoy learning about them and teaching them what i know.
I think as a teacher i'll want to give my students everything i can and take them on field trips, but it depends on where i am teaching and what is acceptable to do.

Question # 3

When the students first arrive in the classroom their job is to take off their coats and hang them up, unpack their backpacks and put them under the cabinets. If they need help they are supposed to ask one another. I think she has them ask each other so it gets them to practice communicating with others. Most of the children in the class have special needs and have a hard time doing things on their own. The teacher is making sure that they learn to do things on their own and strengthen their everyday skills. A couple of the children have a hard time being vocal, so she makes sure they are always answering questions with as many words as she can get out of them. As far as sociocultural I believe she doesn't discriminate against any of her children and does whatever she possible can to help them in either their school work or their home lives.

When its time to get into small groups and work on either a motor skills, counting, or letters she makes sure to place the children in groups according to there level of learning. She does it in a way to make sure that the children who are more addvanced will not over power the kids who need more help. I like that she keeps them all engaged on the task at hand and doesn't leave any child out ever.

Question # 2

Here is some back round info on the school I am doing my service learning;

• 82% of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch
• 11% are English language learners
• 61% are Hispanic
• 17% are White
• 15% are African American
• 6% are Asian
• 1% are Native American

In the classroom I tutor in, there isn't a dominate race. 10 out of the 12 students get breakfast from the school. They all know English, but I'm not sure if some of them speak other languages.

I was confused with the term cultural capital but I think that these kids come from homes where there parents are not well educated and don't have much interest in their children's education. For instance there is a new boy in the class and his mom brought him in on a chilly rainy day wearing no jacket and he didn't have a backpack. When the teacher asked her where all his stuff was, the mom gave her an attitude and left the room. I think that if the parents were to become more involved with their children's schools and education then it benefit not only the children themselves but also the communities around them. The children could really succeed if the parents were to simply support the children and encourage them in their school work.