Purpose of Education

Learning is a journey. Everything we know now, we once didn’t. We learn by making

new experiences, asking questions, or being asked questions. Schools are safe environments for

students to make new discoveries, ask questions, and expand their thinking. Learning comes

from step-backs and failure. We grow when we understand our “mistakes” and can make light of

them. This starts in the classroom. Our schools are to embrace the journey of education and we

can do that by creating a safe classroom culture and providing our students with specific

feedback.

The goal for education is that students will learn. In the mist of all the chaos and clutter of the

education system and politics, as educators it’s a necessity that we ask ourselves, “What is best

for the students.” If we aren’t constantly referred back to this question we can quickly become

more focused on the politics instead of the children. With that being said, it is also the job for the

children to learn. Although many students view education as a task more than as an opportunity.

Because of this as teachers we need to engage our students in learning. This results in mutual

respect as well. The students need to know and understand the responsibilities of their education

and the educator needs to inform them of their responsibilities, and hold the classroom

accountable.

Curriculum and Assessment

What is the role and purpose of curriculum and assessments? This question is often an

area of dispute in education. Assessment is how the students are graded. Grades should reflect

what a student knows. To attain this data as educators we must assess students. The data or
grades that they retain to us demonstrate what and how much they know. Assessing students is

used for grading. Assessments shouldn’t be abused in the form of punishments. Teachers who

use assessment and testing as punishments are not withholding the purity of the grade, along with

developing negative connotations to tests and assessments.

Both formative and summative assessments have a place within the classroom. I rely more on

formative assessments for several reasons. One, feedback has a high effect size when it comes to

student achievement. Two, formative assessments are guides for teachers to gain insight in what

their students know and don’t know. Also, formative assessments are good practices for students

to monitor their own understanding and holds students to high standards in self-assessment.

Curriculum is the information that educations teach to their students. Schools and states chose

the curriculum that teachers use, due to the standardized tests and Common Core. Although

without the assigned curriculum that are research-based practices and methods of teaching that

have proven to be effective in the classroom. Such as; reading and writing workshops,

vocabulary practices, read aloud lessons, and reciprocal teaching. In a school it’s important to

have the same grade teachers on the same page. Professional Learning Communities (PLC) have

proven to be effective networking strategies for educators to collaborate. PLC meetings should

be held with educators in the same grade level on a weekly basis. They should be centered

around discussing ways to help students who aren’t understanding the concepts or how to

challenge students who are grasping the concepts. All educators should bring formative

assessments to the PLC meetings to discuss their students’ understanding.

If a teacher needs to spend more time on a certain content area for their students to better

understand the material, then so be it. This doesn’t mean that the teacher is continuously slow in
presenting the information to their students. But the curriculum should never be held to a higher

regard than the student.

Procedures and Routines

Student’s Role

Similar to what I mentioned before, students have a responsibility to learn at school. As

students they need to do what they can to perform at the best of their ability. While in many

situations this isn’t the case. Many students feel obligated to learn, therefore acting out in

rebellion, or not taking any responsibility for their actions. Elementary aged students can only

control so many objectives in their life. A large portion of struggles or success that occurs in

their life is due to their parents. So educators need to understand that students aren’t always

responsible for what happens to them. For example, being late for school could be because Little

John was late to get out the door. Or it could have been because Little John’s mother slept in past

her alarm and didn’t wake the kids up in time. There are multiple reasons on why students are

late for school. But they shouldn’t have to bear the consequences of their parents. However, at

school a student is to be responsible for their self, their actions, and their education.

Teacher’s Role

Emotional intelligence is key to effective teaching. Being able to recognize and

understand your own emotions and being able to recognize, understand, and influence the

emotions of others determines how well one can manage a classroom. When planning any lesson
teachers should ask themselves, “What is my purpose for bring these students together?” Within

that question should be the direction of which our lessons, activities, and assessments are focused

and carried out.

Teaching is centered on leadership. Effective educators create endless opportunities for

their students. Teachers have the power to enhance a child’s experience at school. As an educator

I want to show students that learning is fun. One effective way to do that is by creating

meaningful and engaging lessons. Having the opportunity to enhance someone’s life is a

blessing! Before teaching educators need to build positive relationships with their students, this

is the foundation of learning. Children don’t learn from people they don’t like. Above all, in

teaching it’s critical to have those positive relationships with students and their families. It won’t

be easy, but it will make your job easier in the long run. Teachers need to be encouraging to

students and keep them to high expectations. In teaching a lot of things need to be balanced. You

can’t be all for standardized test because you forget about the person, while if you’re only for the

individual there are other consequences that arise. Teacher must have a good emotional

intelligence. It’s essential that educators know themselves, know how to deal with themselves,

know others, and know how to deal with others. If teachers don’t understand their emotional

intelligence there will be large consequences and struggles later on. Teachers need to educate

students, in doing that they need to build relationships with their students and their student’s

parents.

The student-teacher relationship is one of the most effective indicators of student

achievement. It’s essential to have a safe and trustworthy environment for all students. This

relationship must be fostered and built as the school year progresses. John Hattie stated the

“Teachers need to be engaged in the passion of teaching and learning.” Educators must be
passionate and find enjoyment in not only the content their teaching but in learning holistically.

When it comes to classroom control, teachers should have a heightened sense of awareness about

what occurs in their classroom and have the capability of remaining calm and objective in all

situations. Teachers should reflect empathy and genuine compassion. Students are more inclined

to be successful academically when they sense empathy from an educator.

Community’s Role

The community plays a large factor in the education system. Often these situations are

out of the teachers reach. There are things that teachers can do to help the student in the

community. For example, providing food and hygiene products for students when they in help.

The community should play a role in supporting material and resources for students that are in

need. This can be a struggle because sometimes students don’t apply for the services, yet they are

still in need of help. Some communities aren’t even able to provide for themselves let alone try

and help others. There is also the struggle of parents misusing or taking for granted the materials

and services provided to them. The community should support the children and adults in need.

They should also strive to encourage education in schools. The community should be energetic

about the school system and how we as a community can come together to do what’s best for the

students. The community should support the school.

Classroom Environment

Above all the classroom environment should be a very welcoming and embracing

atmosphere. Students must feel comfortable to learn, otherwise they won’t learn. One way to do

this is to incorporate many different cultures in your classroom. The United States is known for

its many different races and cultures. Knowing this it would make sense to include different
cultures in the classroom. It’s also critical that students are respectful of one another; this would

help with creating a welcoming environment. There should be a contagious energy in the air,

striving students to learn and perform to their best ability. The students would need to be inviting

to one another and accepting of each other’s differences. The classroom would be a place of

cooperation and collaboration. Students would welcome questions and various view points, and

developing inquiry thinking.

Classroom Management

As an educator it is my job to manage the classroom and make sure all students are safe and

learning. I expect all my students to be safe and have the right to learn. I constantly reflect on the

questions; is this student’s behavior preventing others from learning, themselves from learning,

or me from teaching. If I can answer “yes” to either of those questions I stop the behavior.

Therefore, I rely heavily on the Love and Logic model of behavior management. Building

students up in the classroom and providing them with limits and fostering health decision-

making caters to most school procedures and policies, while infuses life-long beneficial skills.

All behavior occurs for a reason. Even if the behavior is subconscious therefore I plan to act on

behavior instead of re-act. To find the motivator(s) behind a student’s behavior and create ways

for them to be successful in the classroom without compromising others learning.

Method of Teaching and Learning

Gradual release of responsibility is a research-based practice that has been proven

effective in the classroom. Through modeling, whole-group and/or partner practice, and
independently practice students have proven to be more confident and competent in their ability

to demonstrate proficiency.

Different teaching strategies requires specific practices. For example, an effective writing

workshop should look different than and effective reading workshop. Overall, literature is a great

resource to teach from. Read-alouds are ways to incorporate class discussion, reciprocal

teaching, and metacognitive practices.