A Suburban Experience

“To develop knowledgeable, confident and responsible citizens
by providing an extensive learning experience relevant to the interests and capabilities of every student, in partnership with the home and community.” –Center Grove High School Mission

I attended Center Grove High School. One of Indiana’s largest public school systems, our community is nestled in a large suburban setting on the south side of Indianapolis. It is a perfect mix of rural and urban, with an unfortunate lack of diversity but some place I would consider myself holding a position in the future. Interested in teaching high school biology, I would imagine my students to be a mix of high ability and low ability, both passionate and less than enthusiastic about the subject matter.  I would characterize my high school experience to be mildly above average, and because personal experience is a critical factor in shaping opinions and philosophies, I can say without doubt, my high school experience has shaped the kind of educator I envision myself as in the future.

As a member of a large graduating class, I can speak to the importance of personalized attention. Some of my favorite teachers had a talent for making their class feel small, practically one on one. This personal experience is integral to learning. Teachers must identify the needs of the students in their classroom, without care and consideration this is an impossible task. But it makes graduating high school, for many students in a large school setting, nearly impossible when this kind of attention is absent. Zealous and creative instructors are most successful in this kind of endeavor, and I feel that as an instructor it is your duty to bring this kind of attitude to your classroom every day.

The specific environment of the classroom makes an unspeakable amount of difference in learning potential of the students. After a teacher has identified the needs of the students they are instructing, another critical piece of the puzzle is using resources to augment teaching to each student based on their needs. Resources can include a variety of things, from computers in a classroom, to smart-boards, to lab equipment. I feel that those would all have a place in my room, and I would expect my room to be outfitted accordingly. Biology is a hand’s on subject; there are some very creative avenues for teaching about Biology and life in general.

I feel that it would be beneficial to take a non traditional approach to learning the subject matter by incorporating various teaching methods and styles, something that is clearly stressed in the Center Grove mission statement. Students learn differently and it is the responsibility of the educator to provide and thorough experience to all the students in their classroom. The standards are clearly outlined by the Indiana Department of Education but there are a many ways in which to translate this knowledge to the students. The most effective teaching is a blend of these methods, something that incorporates the best of all styles so that the child has the maximum exposure to the material, ensuring encoding of knowledge, while promoting a passion for the process of learning.

It would be necessary for the students of my classroom to understand that they are responsible for their use of technology in my classroom. They should work to promote their critical thinking skills by the use of technology, but I will not be standing over their shoulder reprimanding them when they do not cooperate.  They will be expected to follow the outlined acceptable use policy of the institution.

The last part of any cohesive learning environment is communication, and I believe that a successful learning experience is something that is in partnership with both the community and home. This is direct alignment with Center Grove high school and something I specifically benefited from in my experience there. Teachers should promote communication through an assortment of venues. I would like to incorporate the blog idea into my classroom because I feel this is a directly affective method of communicating with parents about what will be happening in my classroom.

Teaching is perhaps the most direct and pervasive occupation for shaping a young individual’s life. As a future educator, I want to be able to provide my students with a classroom setting that prepares them for the real world by promoting critical thinking skills, a broad knowledge base on which to grow, and a passion for the process of learning. I feel this can be achieved through a combination of varied teaching methods, use of technology, and communication. My personal experience with all of these things has proven to me that when employed in conjunction with one another, they can foster an accomplished and successful student as well as learning experience.

References

Bohnenkamp, Julie A. “Center Grove | Technology.” Center Grove Community School      Corporation. Schoolwires, Inc., 2010. 09 Sept. 2010.       <http://www.centergrove.k12.in.us/1680105910927600/site/default.asp>.

“Center Grove Community School Corporation | Mission, Vision, Goals.” Center Grove    Community School Corporation. Schoolwires, Inc., 2010. 09 Sept. 2010.  <http://www.centergrove.k12.in.us/168010422154713573/site/default.asp>.

“Standards – Indiana Standards & Resources.” Indiana Reading First. 2010. 09 Sept. 2010.            <http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx>.

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