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STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Cody Enrico
Carol Billing
EDUC 204 Families, Communities & Culture
Tuesdays 1:00-2:15, Spring 2015

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Statement of Informed Beliefs
Making the decision to become a teacher is a just a small step in the process of
what it means to be an educator. Becoming a teacher means you are taking many young
minds and you are willingly accepting the challenge to be one of the lucky people who
get the chance to help shape your students into the person they are going to be. You could
have a negative affect on the student if you choose to not use your talents in the
appropriate manner, but if you do the little things correctly and with diligence, you very
well could become a big role in their lives. It is one of the most rewarding jobs, yet can
also be very hard on a teacher, because we will get attached to our students and form
friendships with them.
All Students Can Learn
I truly believe that the success you have as a teacher isnt whether or not you can
become friends with all of your students, meet the standards that are in place for teachers
nowadays, but its whether or not you can get your students to trust and respect the
process that you are laying out before them. In Brofenbrenners biological model, a
teacher must become part of so many of the different parts of the students social life, and
each different stage must also be known to the teacher and student. One important thing I
will try very hard to do is to keep up the self-esteem of the students. When students of
any age get discouraged with schooling, for whatever the reason may be, thats when they
start to loose focus. School is a place where kids should feel safe, free their mind of the
troubles that are going on in the home life, and outside of school, they are here to learn.
Its important for a teacher to help each student find his or her self-concept. When
students realize who they are and how they learn differently or similarly to those in their

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class, they have more success in the classroom. I always found that the teachers I
respected the most were the ones who were willing to go above and beyond what their
time in the classroom required them to. I also think that a very important part of
becoming a teacher is unintentional socialization. I think that getting kids to realize that
they are becoming students without them actually feeling like they have to just memorize
dates or tables is a very important part of being a teacher.
Teachers Expectation
It is very important for every student to understand and realize the expectations
that their teachers have for them. As teachers its our duty to make these apparent to our
students as well as to the parents. The best way for a teacher to show what they expect in
their class is by modeling to their students. By being the example the students will get to
see first hand what is expected. While I was teaching at a preschool, it was always easiest
for that age of children to learn from the visual cues we gave them. When we wanted
them to be quiet in the halls, we would say things like catch a bubble, the kids were
learning from our behavior. When we stand in front of our students and lead them, it is
important that we are showing them some of our morals. When teachers expect the
highest quality from their students we are showing them that excellence is not only the
standard but also what we are striving for.
Students Social Ecology Theory
As a teacher it is very important that we structure our lesson plans in way that
allows the student to understand and connect to the material. When a teacher relates the
learned material to something that their students know and like, it helps grab the attention
of the student and I feel keeps them focused. A great teacher will take the extra steps

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necessary to come up with new and fun ways to get their students to enjoy the time in
class. It is key for the teacher to get the students to believe in them, to help support them
and build their self-efficacy. Students that believe in themselves are going to have more
success in school, and being successful will lead to more and more opportunities in life.
Families are the most important factor for a childs development. In the home is
where children of all ages learn behaviors from their parents and other siblings, whether
those are good or bad. Behaviorism in the family home is going to be the key to most of
the behaviors that the child brings into the classroom. Another key that comes from the
house is discipline.
Whether the teacher lives in the community where they teach or not, its important
for the teacher to get to know those in the community. When families see teachers at
events in the community they get to know that teacher outside the walls of the school. As
a teacher we want to be approachable so parents and students alike feel comfortable
talking with us. We have a big responsibility taking on the weight of educating young
minds, and if a teacher wants to be tucked away in their little shell, its going to make
communication very difficult. One thing I learned from my parents who are both
teachers, is that when we were out of the house in public and someone came up to them
to talk about school or just to say hello, they always made time to listen to them. That has
become one of the things I have tried to make sure that I do, because you can see the way
people respond to even just a few minutes of your time.
Cultural Diversity Instruction
Being able to connect with our students is the most important factor when it
comes to getting the most out of our students. Each student is going to have their own set

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of problems outside of the classroom and as the teacher we must be the person that they
with out doubt know they can trust. I observed at a Title 1 school, and in the P.E. class I
was in every class had at least 3 students where English was there second language, and it
was spread all over from Spanish, Sudanese, many different African dialects, and many
more. It truly was an eye opener to see how the different teachers adapted to each
individual situation.
A good way to integrate your students together in the classroom is
through cultural pluralism. This involves all of the different religions, languages and
even holidays that some of your students might celebrate. Not only will your students
benefit from this, but the teacher might learn something as well. Cultural pluralism is
different from cultural assimilation in that it takes all of those involved and gets
everyone the chance to understand more about each other. Cultural assimilation is where
your students who are immigrants or from different cultural backgrounds start to start to
see the way things are done in your town or school, and adapt to that way of life.
Curriculum for all Learners
As the teacher of the classroom we have to be able to make quick adjustments on
the fly. Yes we can make a lesson plan and plan to follow it, but there are always going to
be occasions where quick thinking and some smart teaching come into play. Each day
there are going to be different challenges that must be faced, thats something that never
will go away. To be a great teacher I think its important to face these sorts of challenges
in a way that doesnt distract from the classroom learning. The first couple years are
going to be the ones where we are working out the kinks, trying to get the flow of things
and figuring out how our way of teaching best connects with the students. These first few

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years are where we are going to realize our accountability in the class. Its important that
we as the teacher give our students the perception we as the teacher are on their team. In
some classrooms I have been in over the course of my education, you can see when the
teacher puts up a front that this is my classroom and this is the way its going to be sort of
attitude, students feel like they dont have a say in their education and feel very forced
into learning. As apposed to the classroom where teacher and students work together the
classroom takes on a cooperative goal structure. Another way to ensure each student
has the best opportunity for achieving their highest learning is making sure I as the
teacher understand each childs zone of proximal development (ZPD). Each student is
going to learn at a different rate than those around them and its important that I see and
address those needs of each student I have in the classroom.
I know that taking on the position of a teacher can be a scary thought for some
people, but I believe that I have the skills needed to be an excellent teacher. I truly
believe that being passionate about what you do will ensure the quality of your work. I
absolutely love teaching and working with kids and I want to be a positive influence in
the lives of my students. I have learned the dedication needed to succeed at this
profession from my parents who are two of the best teachers I have ever met, they work
hard and in the end they see the results that some just expect to happen. It took me awhile
to finally make the choice to become a teacher but I know that I am doing this for all the
right reasons, I want my students to realize that I am a positive influence, role model and
a leader.

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References
Berns, R. (2010). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support (9th ed.).
Belmont, California: Wadsworth.