Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 1

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Tracy Mahoni

Carol Billing

Education 204

Spring 2016
STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS 2

All Students Can Learn

Every child can connect to success. As a teacher, I have to uncover how each

child will learn in the best way. I must look at the whole picture of the developing child. I

must set high expectations and help my students rise to the challenge.

Teacher Responsibility

As a teacher, I set the tone for the classroom. I am the model that they are looking

to for instruction. I must be aware of the example I am setting in all areas. I must be

aware of not just the academics of the classroom but also the social and emotional needs

as well.

I plan to take responsibility through operant methods of socialization. (Berns,

2013, p. 52) Operant methods use positive reinforcement whenever possible through

rewards and praise. I would like to focus on what the child is doing well and promote that

good behavior. I also plan to use shaping which is systematic. I will continue to build

concept upon concept until they have mastered it. I will reward them as they make steps

to progress forward. Shaping is often used with immediate reinforcement. (Berns, 2013,

p. 54) I plan to praise quickly and often as we move toward a common goal. I will

continue to build on the students success.

These are some techniques I will implement in the classroom. The environment of

the classroom is crucial for all students being able to learn. This classroom management

will ensure that distractions are at a minimum, focus is enabled, and learning can take

place.

Ensure that All Students Will Learn

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I believe I have to be passionate about the profession of teaching and create a

team environment. As a group, we are building our classroom into what will work best

for the team. I hope to construct an environment that quickly and easily handles

disruptions and behavioral issues before they are out of hand. I plan to find out as much

as I can about a child, provide movement, change, engaging lessons, and exciting

discussions with little time for getting off point.

I will do my best to be consistent. I will laugh, smile, and enjoy the kids as well as

provide strong guidelines of behavior and consequences. Another important element of

building a team environment is feedback as to their behavior and work. Through

feedback, they will see places to improve and be proud of what they have done well. I

will look for the good in each child and start with praise.

Managing the Classroom

Reasoning is an explanation of why the behavior is not appropriate to prevent the

behavior. (Berns, 2013, p. 55) For example, if I say that no one can talk while Im

talking, I then explain that students might miss important instructions. I plan to

communicate as best as I can to encourage the appropriate behavior for socialization. In a

classroom of 30 students or more, I must focus on the group environment that keeps

everyone safe and focused for optimal learning.

Teachers Expectations

The teachers expectation impacts the students ability to learn. According to our

textbook, attachment is the tie that one person forms to another specific person, binding

them together in space and enduring over time. Socialization begins with personal

attachment. It is my responsibility to help them achieve their highest potential.

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As we develop in our relationship as teacher and student I hope to enable them to

self-regulate. Self-Regulation is the ability to control ones impulses, behavior, or

emotions. This is a learned skill that will be reinforced in the classroom.

Lastly, I expect to influence their developmental skills. Socialization aims to

provide social, emotional, and cognitive skills to children so that they can function

successfully in society. There is a lot more than just cognitive in the development of a

student. I expect my students to excel not just academically but socially (getting along

with others) and emotionally (able to handle their emotions for an appropriate time) as

well.

Educational Goals

I believe educational goals are important. We must have something that we are

reaching to achieve. Its good to have a benchmark to know if we are hitting the mark or

missing it. Without goals we would not know if we succeeded or not. I plan to use this by

modeling. (Berns, 2013, p. 59) As I learn and develop as a teacher so will my students. I

will model that good behavior to help them reach their full potential and succeed.

Psychologist Jean Piaget is known for his developmental theory of cognitive

development that states that children learn through their own activity. Learning is a

process of construction and transformation of experience into meaning. (Berns, 2013, p.

57)

I plan to offer developmentally appropriate activities that will create opportunities

for that child to succeed. I want to set educational goals that the child will be able to meet

and feel successful. I want them to achieve self-efficacy where they believe they can

master a situation and produce a positive effect. I want my students to feel competent and
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capable. One great way to provide this is to have them teach younger children. This gives

them the confidence as they teach younger grades what they have already learned. This

will improve their self-confidence on the subject.

Students Social Ecology

Urie Bronfenbrenner, a developmental psychologist, has developed a bio-

ecological model of human development. It categorizes the areas of a childs life into

microsystems, meso-systems, macro-systems, exo-systems, and chrono-systems that

surround the child. Socialization involves all of these interactions between the child and

the world around him/her.

There are also biological factors, sociocultural factors, and interactive factors

that shape the child. Biological factors are the genetics that the child has from birth.

Sociocultural factors are the influences that develop the brain in response. All of these

factors are a part of how the child develops with the goals of developing a positive self-

concept and self esteem. Through this the child will learn to self regulate and adapt.

Humans have this incredible ability to change and adapt to their environment.

Through learning our aim is to empower achievement as they become successful.

Through the school system we teach appropriate social roles and what is normal in our

society. As a teacher I also expect to empower achievement. (Berns, 2013, p. 41) I want

to be the teacher that influences the childs motivation to succeed. I want these kids to

achieve their full potential in life.

Families, Cultures, Communities

Families, cultures, and communities have a tremendous impact on how a child

develops. There are many factors that touch a childs life and none is as important as their
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family. Depending on their culture and community they will develop in different ways.

The family passes on their values, expectations, and practices.

Through these avenues students develop their attitudes and motives. Attitudes

are the tendencies to respond positively or negatively to certain persons, objects, or

situations. (Berns, 2013, p. 67) Motives are the needs or emotions that cause a person to

act, such as the need for achievement. (Berns, 2013, p. 67) As a teacher, the application is

to understand why a student is behaving the way they are. The more we can tap into the

knowledge of their culture, family, and experiences will give us some insight into who

they are and what will motivate them in the classroom.

Students Ethnic Backgrounds

I would love to incorporate as many nationalities as possible into my curriculum.

I would love to add geography and have a map showing the different nationalities of the

students. It would be interesting to have students bring items they have from other

countries for show and tell. We could also learn a word from each student from another

culture such as hello and goodbye. Then we could use this in our greetings. Cultural

diversity is most welcome in my classroom.

Cultural Pluralism

Cultural Pluralism involves a mutual appreciation and understanding of various

cultures and the coexistence in society of different languages, religions, and lifestyles.

(Berns, 2013, p. 191) I do believe in unity in diversity. There is so much we can learn

from each other. Each country has its own strengths and weaknesses. We can learn from

each nation and culture. I would love to encourage my students to learn about more

places than just the United States.

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Cultural Assimilation

Cultural Assimilation is the process where a minority (subordinate) cultural

group takes on the characteristics of the majority (dominant) cultural group. (Berns,

2013, p. 191) Its true that in public school we do teach in English and celebrate

American holidays. This is because we are here in America. I think we will naturally

teach the American culture if we teach here in America.

Planning, Delivery, and Assessment

As I teacher I will have to make adjustments in my planning, delivery, and

assessment of each child. I will use the zone of proximal development. (Berns, 2013, p.

220) Zone of proximal development is Vgotskys term for the space between what a

learner can do independently and what he or she can do while participating with more

capable others. I will be aware of the students zone of development and provide

appropriate assignments to enhance their learning.

I also plan to use authentic assessment. Authentic assessment is an evaluation

based on real performance, rather than test performance showing mastery of a task.

(Berns, 2013, p. 242) I plan to use frequent short assessments to test for understanding of

the concept. This immediate feedback will provide an understanding if I need to present

the concept in a different way. This will let me know if I need to continue to teach the

same concept or move on to more challenging material.

As every teacher knows we will also use standardized tests in which an

individual is compared to a norm on scientifically selected items. (Berns, 2013, p. 242)

This benchmark for students will show where they are at on a broad scale.
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All of this information from the CFU (Checks for Understanding) will help me

evaluate what instructional planning and delivery is working and what needs to be

adjusted. As a teacher, I must be flexible to adjust my lesson plans accordingly.

I will ensure that each student will improve in my classroom by starting with a

baseline of where the student is at during the beginning of the year compared to the end

of the year. I will also provide assessments each quarter to see if we are reaching the

goals that I have set out for that year. These benchmarks along the way will let me see if

we are on track to meet our goals. I will make goals for our classroom that are specific,

measurable, appropriate, realistic, and use good timing to ensure we will reach these

goals.

In conclusion, the job of a teacher is multifaceted and involved. It takes focus on

goals as well as adjustments and flexibility. With this mindset I am sure that each child

can achieve success.

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References

Berns, R. (2013). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.