Prompt 3& Shor.

As a future educator I strongly believe that it is important and critical to be aware and respectful of each student's individuality and specific needs. The chances of having a classroom where every single student is coming from the same cultural back round, has the same level of understanding, learning techniques, and is evenly matched up on abilities and overall educational expectations, is slim to none. As educators we need to have our eyes, minds, and hearts open to the differences in our students. In order to reach our students, we need to be able to create an educational atmosphere that will be comfortable, reassuring, and strong for each student.

Growing up I attended an Elementary, Middle, and High School where I found many of the children were able to relate to one another and had many if not all similarities at home. Although as I grew older and reached higher grades I did see the similarities started to fade and the students and cultures slowly grew more divers, overall I grew up pretty sheltered and oblivious to how different life is for others.
The school and classroom that I have been working in has opened my eyes to how different life really is for everybody. This school has students from different backgrounds, cultures, races, and life styles. Growing up this was something I was oblivious and unaware of. Although I have lived only 45minutes away from this area my entire life, our lives and experiences are extremely different. As an educator I need to be aware of these differences and be able to work with each student's story in order to successfully help and improve their lives.

In the classroom I am tutoring in I have observed that the teacher has taken some consideration in these children's wide variety of educational needs. She has created a schedule that gives each child enough time to work individually, in pairs, and with the class as a whole. I have noticed at times during different subjects she does step aside with some students to further explain and provide extra help. Although I have noticed her making some adjustments to these children's needs, I feel she is capable and should put more effort and time into creating the classroom a positive environment for each student.
The student's in this class clearly come from different life styles at home. Some of these children have a role model figure present while others do not. Some children have someone to work with them on school work at home while others do not. Some children have a safe, secure, healthy place to go home to while others do not. I feel that the teacher I observe and help out has either turned her back on these situations, or is worn out. The communication between the students and this classroom is more focused around discipline rather than understanding and equal respect.
I have noticed there are certain students in this class who are on top of their work and are often praised and shown as an example for the other students. At the same time I have noticed there is a hand full of students that struggle, cant focus, and need more help than others. I have observed that these students are often in trouble, being scolded, or simply sitting in their seats with looks on their face of grief, confusion, defeat, and failure. The way the teacher deals with these certain students is the complete opposite of what I would expect.
These children need more one on one time, more comfort and compassion. The way they are treated by their teacher, in my eyes, is just going to set these certain students up for hatred towards schooling and authorities.

Educators need to be aware and hold their eyes open to the differences in their students. I can imagine it may be exhausting at times, but as tired as we may feel.. these children are even more tired, worn, and in need to motivation and help. Creating a classroom with a syllabus and schedule that meets all students needs and abilities is a very difficult task. Nobody said life would be easy. Education is something today that needs to be wiped out and completely refocused. The glorious summers off and convenient work hours are not the aspects of teaching that should be drawing in future employees. The children, their lives, and the compassion, support, respect, and help they need is what is important.

Ira Shor comes to mind when thinking of these topics in the classroom. Ira Shor believes that education is something that students, educators, and society as a whole should participate in. Educators should teach students to question what is being taught, what view point books are written, and what exactly is right and wrong. He believes that education is something that should give students the chance to interact, think deeply, and have the chance to speak for themselves and develop their own believes on certain topics. Everyone is different. Humans are individuals. Not any two human on this earth share the same exact story as each other. As educators we need to allow our students to shine and succeed as individuals. We need to strive to educate and reach them any way possible. We need to show our students that their past is what makes them who they are, and their future is something they themselves can only determine. As educators we need to put all bias aside. We need to take a step back and create an educational atmosphere that gives each student the ability to reach a successful future and form their own personal views, thoughts, and goals while growing.