Bridge Builder Academy

As a future teacher of a fast-changing generation that searches restlessly for new interests, I believe that old and new must meet to keep the basic values of a balanced literacy. Focusing on prior knowledge, collaborating with colleagues, peers, families, and community, creating connections with our surrounding, and empowering students’ learning style throughout the process of gaining knowledge of reading and writing. Foremost, my personal philosophy of teaching literacy is based on constructivism and sociolinguistic, where hands on experience and guidance are priority in an informational world. To facilitate a child’s acquisition of literacy skills , as I plan for literacy instruction for my future classroom, I will take into consideration

After observing, communicating with, and analyzing the work of Kayson Maciel-Andrews, I have learned many things about working with advanced students in a low-achieving classroom. At my internship site, we have a very low population of talented and gifted students, less than 2%, and therefore, getting the opportunity to work closely with one of these students was a very unique opportunity for me.

Jimmy Santiago Baca is a prime example of the impact that can be extracted from a strong and caring passion towards an education. Baca was passionate in learning how to read when he was in prison, and he eventually achieved that goal. With his passion fueling his career, Baca would go on to become a poet, writer, and education activists for diverse classrooms. Baca is fueled by improving the conditions of those who feel like they have hit rock bottom like he once was. Several books were written from Baca’s backstory in hopes that people would learn from his mistakes and lessons learned within his lifetime. One of the subject areas that Baca has spent a good amount of his life promoting and discussing is the importance of education. Baca wrote a collection of stories that showed his experiences where people attempted to keep him down, but Baca’s drive to continue to expand and learn prevented him from staying down. This collection of stories is called “Stories from the Edge,” and Baca decided to add something extra with this book. He decided to go into a classroom with diverse students and he shared his stories from the book in greater detail. There were open discussions with the students about how his stories related to the students lives. After the student group left, Baca met with the teachers that aided with the student interaction, and they discussed the teaching methods that fuel the students motivation to learn. Jimmy Baca clearly is passionate in aiding individuals

School, everyone summons different thoughts and connotations whenever they hear that word. Although people range in their opinions of school, many can agree that schools all have the same goal: to educate their students. This is proving to be false; John Taylor Gatto provides evidence of this in his essay, “Against School.” Within this text he explains how schools are not educating students to be the best they can be, instead teachers are teaching them to become role players in today’s society and to be desensitized from their natural creativity. Gatto, a three time New York Teacher of the Year, has had his fair share of teaching. Gatto provides evidence to the audience that they have been wrong all along about the way a school functions. His ideals prove that the schooling systems in today’s society are not what they seem; schools are thought to develop and help a student unlock their full potential but through the evidence that Gatto provides us he shows that the education system does anything but that. He shows us this by appealing to the audience’s logos and pathos or their logical and emotional natures.

Literacy is a vital part of all later learning. Because of this, the children will engage in hands on activities that relates to what they have read and give them opportunities to make up their own versions, as well as make up their own stories. They will have a large group story time and a partner reading time. An ample variety of books will be available at all times. Signs with words and pictures will be posted around the classroom showing, daily activities, objects that are used daily, and the placement of toys and

The students at Summit Charter Collegiate Academy, also known as SCCA, are bright young students with potential to make their future an outstanding work of art. They are students who are serious about their education and will do anything to get to the highest pinnacle in life. But besides being determined and solemn scholars, they are still only teenagers in high school who just want to have fun. The culture at SCCA lacks fun, excitement, and freedom, and the main reason for that is because of the Burton School District that runs the facility. There needs to be some changes in the Burton School District and in the culture of SCCA.

During my observations, it is clear that Ms. Minor prepares well thought out lesson plans for her third grade students. Lesson reflect both the state adopted curriculum and the instructional needs of the students she serves. She prepares lessons that increase student engagement. Ms. Minor’s lesson also incorporates culturally responsive strategies. Her selection of instructional resources demonstrates an understanding of the diverse

Education is the best way to continue the revolution started by Mr. Adams and others. I work hard to achieve good grades and I devote countless hours to tutoring others to ensure their success as well. I work, plan, build, and dream in order to achieve the success God has planned. With hard work and courage, I will make a difference in this world that will benefit many. PSM symbolizes a learning torch for many children who come from all walks of life as it provides a vigorous education, a safe environment, and a platform to push oneself beyond perceived limits. Mr. Adams hires passionate teachers who care about our learning and well-being. In return, we demonstrate our appreciation by attending prestigious colleges, making noticeable contributions to society, and returning to talk to the new up and coming PSM students. I admire Mr. Adams and all of the righteous undertakings he has endured. And just like Mr. Adams, I plan to pass the torch on to the next generation yet to

In chapter 5, Reforming America’s Schools, I learned many things that affect me as an educator. An important fact that interests me was that there are four goals that schools should follow. The first one is academic, including a broad array of knowledge and intellectual skills. The second one is vocational, aimed at readiness for the world of work and economic responsibilities. The third one is social and civic, including skills and behavior for participating in a complex democratic society. The fourth one is personal, including the development of individual talent and self-expression. This will affect me as an educator so that I can follow and do my best to complete these goals. Now I am aware of what should be done in a classroom.

In this article, Beth Bir and Mondrail Myrick are attempting to determine how the summer bridge program such as the program Creating Higher Expectations for Educational Readiness affects student success in college. The participants in this study were 1,891 African-American male and female students in developmental education at a four-year Historically Black University from 2008 to 2012, with an overall GPA of 2.52, a combined SAT score of 853, a first year rentention rate of 70%, and a second year rentention rate of 53%. The researchers found that those enrolled in the summer bridge program had lower high school gpas and SAT scores that non-participants. However, the researchers also found that overall those enrolled in a summer bridge program actually had higher GPAs and first and second year retention rates than students

In September of 2013, the new East Bridgewater Junior Senior High School opened it’s doors for the very first time welcoming students from grades 7 - 12. After reorganization of the three schools in the district, it was decided that the seventh and eighth grade would move from the middle school into the new building. Although the building was beautiful and filled with the latest technology, a wave of negative thoughts and expectations about how the school and the school district functions engulfed the staff. A divide slowly but surely formed between the middle school teachers and the the high school teachers, new policies, programs, and technical changes were implemented with few explanations or input, and administration became as distant

Most of the other students in her 2nd grade classroom are able to read classroom text and complete work independently. They also read books for enjoyment on their own. The reading time in her classroom consists of a block during which the teacher works with small groups and the children are expected to work quite independently when they are not working directly with the teacher. The class uses a trade book format and this is utilized across the curriculum. Students are provided with short skills building lessons in large and small groups. Most of the time spent during explicit reading instruction is targeted to helping students develop reading fluency.

My response from my checklist for an effective literacy program revealed that I am a very animated teacher. I encourage my students to laugh with me building a positive relationship. I found that my students enjoy my lessons when I bring in prior experiences. Modeling the lesson with humor capture the student’s attention and they are eager to participate and collaborate with the peers and teachers. My strength demonstrates that I model all my lessons and make them student friendly. I plan and model my lessons by incorporated and adapted the skills to students’ individual needs. I also teach cross curriculum allowing students to build from each core subject.

The Power of Their Ideas is a collection of journal entries and essays by former New York City principal, Deborah Meier, who successfully created an alternative public school program. Long before the current school reform movement began Deborah Meier invested her heart and soul into creating a school environment that continues to foster to the whole child. For her, hearing the self-confident voices of children was a reminder that they are all-alike and are indeed capable of generating powerful ideas. With this as a mantra she has not only sought to build the individual student but the community as a whole.

Everyday, teachers are faced with the challenge of teaching students new information that is valuable to their future. Teachers are responsible to determine what and how information is taught. How this information is taught to students is pertinent to their success; therefore, teachers must be able to use effective teaching methods in the classroom. Students have diverse learning styles; therefore, teachers need to determine how students learn best and pattern their teaching to accommodate these differences. During elementary school, children learn to read and write, acquire a basic understanding of content areas, and develop dispositions toward