This semester, I have the opportunity to be a teachers aide in

the Ottawa Hills neighborhood at West Side Christian Elementary

School (WSCES). The school is a PreK- 4th grade Christian school based
on principles on biblical principles and values. The school is explicitly
Christian and incorporates Christ in their school far beyond Friday
morning chapel. The schools mission stated on their website is,
Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary
society. (2013). The teachers I have come to know are caring, loving
adults who exemplify Christ through the way they treat their students.
One of the many ways in which WSCES works to prepare students to
serve Christ is through their variety of learning environments.
At WSCES, there are typically four classrooms per grade. In each
grade there is one Spanish Immersion class and three English speaking
class. Both Spanish immersion and primarily English speaking classes
have Spanish specials twice a week. For the Spanish specials in
English speaking classes, the curriculum focuses on teaching content
students have learned in the past using the Spanish language. For
example, last year in science students learned about animals, their
environments, and adaptations. Now the students are reviewing these
lessons in Spanish class and learning terminology for these lessons in
Spanish.
Although students are learning Spanish in the classroom, most
students speak English as their native language and come from

affluent Caucasian families in the Grand Rapids area. Due to the fact
that WSCES is a Christian school in Grand Rapids, MI, there are many
students from the Christian Reformed Church background. Most CRC
churches provide scholarships to help pay tuition of students in their
schools and many students at WSCES receive these scholarships.
While many students attend the CRC, the schools website states that
hundreds of congregations represented (2013). In addition, there
are a variety of neighborhoods represented within the school. Some
families live very close to the school, but others are from more urban
areas of Grand Rapids and buses bring them to the Ottawa Hills
neighborhood each day.
In touring the neighborhood Ottawa Hills neighborhood and
observing the activity there, we noticed a mix of students arriving at
school by bus, walking, riding their bike, or being dropped off by
parents. The neighborhood surrounding the school has well kept
houses and lawns. Down the street, there are a few community
businesses such as a dry cleaning service, a library, a hair salon, and a
car mechanic. The woman working at the dry cleaners commented
that she feels as though the neighborhood has improved and houses
have been selling at a faster rate since WSCES relocated into the
Ottawa Hills neighborhood.
The 26 fourth grade students in Mr. Millers classroom not only
come from a variety of neighborhoods, but a variety of racial and

cultural backgrounds as well. The school states to have over 20%

ethnically diverse student body and that statistic is well represented
within Mr. Millers classroom (West Side Christian Schools, 2013).
There are two Asian, four African American, one mixed, and nineteen
Caucasian students. There are 12 female students and 14 male
students. In conversations with Mr. Miller, I have learned that in his
classroom specifically many students come from upper-class families in
East Grand Rapids. They come from CRC backgrounds and have
families involved in the school. He has even asked one or two students
if their moms have been at school during the school day they spend a
lot of time volunteering there.
On the other hand, Mr. Miller has mentioned some students come
from other backgrounds as well. Some live in areas across town in
Grand Rapids and ride the bus to school. There is one learner in
particular that he has described as low. She does not speak clearly,
has difficulty enunciating phrases, and her ability to read is below
average. Other students that may have difficulty reading due to
language adjustments are two females that have lived in countries
other than the US in recent years. One student has recently moved
back to the United States because her parents are missionaries in
Bangladesh, while another student is a refugee from Sudan and moved
to the United States with her family a few year ago.

In contrast to learners that may be challenged due to linguistic

or cultural differences, another autistic student in my classroom is
often challenged by the noise and frequent movement in Mr. Millers
classroom. This student is very bright student - he spells very well for
his age and excels in mathematics. One challenge for him is being
easily frustrated by a variety of situations. Something like a
complication in playing a game or losing a kickball can be enough
bring his mom to call in to the school saying he will be absent for the
morning. Despite these minor difficulties, this student, as well as
students from other backgrounds, are embraced in Mr. Millers class.
While I would not say their diversity is celebrated or discussed
regularly, I would say that students differences are often seen as
strengths. On the classroom was is the verse Romans 12:5. This verse
speaks of many members of the Christs church forming one body
together. Students in this classroom are valued and appreciated for
their strength areas and the diverse ways in which they contribute to
the classroom community!
The classroom curriculum at WSCES is based on the Michigan
Common Core standards. Mr. Miller stated that for math, fourth grade
classes use the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Math Expressions: Common
Core textbooks. For language arts, Mr. Miller uses the curriculum from
a Basic Comprehensive Skills textbook. As 4th graders, Michigan
students greatly focus on state history and government. The class is

using a LAPS textbook to look into geographical, governmental, and

cultural aspects of their state. For history, the class uses a Michigan
Adventure textbook highlighting the Michigans original inhabitants and
their progression up to the recent decade.
West Side Christian Elementary School is a school with a variety
of content, learners, and influences. Although they come from a
variety of backgrounds and face a variety of challenges, students at
WSCES are learning about the Lord through both their curriculum and
through the example of their teachers and peers. Learners at the
school supported by loving teachers who encourage them to work hard
and engage the Lords world around them.