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"Although there is ample room for natural talent, most teaching is based on tried and true practices. And we know that good teachers matter; a study that followed 2.5 million students over 20 years found that teachers who helped improve their students' achievement also had positive effects on those students lives beyond academics, including lower teenage pregnancy rates, less obesity, greater college matriculation and higher adult earnings."

There is no "one good teacher persona/experience". A good teacher is one who tries, makes mistakes and apologizes for them, and changes students' lives. That is such a powerful aspect in a teacher.

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"Effective classroom management requires planning, and research underscores that good behavioral managers are good instructional planners. Effective classroom managers are waiting at the door when the children arrive, rather than entering a room late after noise and disruption have had a chance to build."
I chose this quote because classroom management is in the little details. Being at your door, the quiet "shh" you give to your class as they begin to get rowdy... It all manages the behaviors in the class.

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"Differentiated instruction responds to student differences by offering multiple options for instruction and assessment... [Do] whatever it takes to ensure that struggling and advanced learners, students with varied cultural heritages, and children with different background experiences all grow as much as they possibly can."

I chose this quote because it holds me accountable as a teacher to constantly be shaping my lessons and unit plans to the needs of my students. I need to be able to adapt the plan that I might of had in order to fit the needs of the students that enter my

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This chapter has changed me because it confirmed to me that teaching is my passion. Teaching is so much more than a paycheck for me. It is one step towards changing the world... I hope that in this project you will be able to feel my passion for this profession. All I want to do is change the lives of my students, show them that I care, and create a loving community around me.

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"Schools teach many powerful but hidden lessons, from the importance of punctuality to following the rules, from social conformity to respecting authority."

I chose this quote because I think that hidden curriculum like the quote above can be damaging as much it can be good. I think a lot about the school to prison pipeline- "speak when called on, follow the rules, listen to me just because I'm an adult"- all of those things can be extremely damaging and we wonder why students have a hard time functioning as adults when they hit 18 years old.

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"The extra-curriculum teaches students lessons in school activities such as recess, sports, clubs, governance, and the student newspaper- all places where a great deal of learning occurs without tests or grades."

I chose this quote because I know that extra curricular activities enhance social skills as well as academic learning. Kids need opportunities to give themselves a 'brain break'. They are still learning how the world works, how to function in groups, manners, etc. All without pressure attached.

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"High-stakes tests are used to make important decisions about students, educators, schools, or districts. Such tests are used to determine punishments (like reduced school funding), accolades, advancement, or salary increases. These tests are more likely to create havoc and hurt than solve problems."

I chose this quote because I agree with it. High-stakes tests are anxiety inducing for all students and teachers alike. They can hurt families, student confidence and advancement. It is unfair that punishment like cutting funding and no salary raises can happen to a school. High-stakes test do not account for the needs of children, the thousands of ways a teacher can teach, and the thousands of ways a student can learn.

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This chapter has changed me because it gave me an insight to standardized testing that I was unaware of before. I still do not think that standardized testing is fair because it clumps children into one way of conveying knowledge. It does not include all of the ways a child can learn.

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"Schools should promote creativity in the arts and develop each student's skills and talents... Honing artistic skills, preparing for performances, and presenting work to the public all teach students real-life applications of math, literature, science, and interpersonal skills."

This quote is important to me because I was a theater kid. I had the unique opportunity to have a strong community of friends, a good work ethic (working on sets, lighting, painting, costuming, directing...) and opportunities to connect real-life to my learning. I would have parts as a suffragette, or a woman who lost a son, or a woman in 1700 France. It heightened my ability to read, empathize, and helped me gain experiences to share in my in-class writing.

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"A charter school- creates its own curriculum, cannot use admissions tests,  hires its own staff, receives public funding..."

I included this quote because I have worked in two charter schools; Maritime Charter High School, and Tapestry Charter High School. It is interesting to me how the schools are run, who funds them, and that they have freedom (for a period of time) to operate outside of other regulations.

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"When our judgement, stereotypes, and assumptions remain unexamined, any resulting low expectations profoundly affect individual children- and undermine schools' social mobility..."

I chose this quote because it touches on an important truth; judgments shape expectations. The way that staff and administrators treat a well-dressed/clean student is not the way that they will treat a student who has baggier clothes and a less cleanly appearance. I want to create a safe space in my classroom where I have created achievable high standards for all of my students.

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This chapter has changed me because the thoughts of fair treatment for all my students now shape the way that I interact with them.

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"Some teachers use social media tools to improve class discussions, build rapport, answer questions about class assignments, and keep students informed about school activities. Teachers report that by connecting with students through social networking, they often discover interests or hobbies that help them engage kids in the classroom..."

I chose this quote because it spoke to the question that I had before about student engagement. Social media/networking can help me understand my students better. This is the world that they are used to living in. They are the experts and they will feel more confident and involved in the classroom with some use of technology.

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"...Teachers [need to] report suspected cases of abuse... You can't ignore your ethical responsibility..."

I chose this quote because I recently had a student that was not doing her work in my classroom. I was concerned because she had great grades and slowly they plummeted. She ended up telling me some very heartbreaking things about her home life. I spoke to the school social worker who is now working with the girl and her parents. I am lucky have known what to do with my responsibility, but I worry for the moment when a student loses trust in me because they feel as though I spoke about something personal. If something is a threat to the student's well being, it is always my responsibility to say something to the right person who can do something about it.

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"Create an environment where both teachers and students respect and encourage diverse points of view--and promote sharing of diverse opinions. -CLIMATE

Demonstrate the ethical lessons you teach in small and large ways-- everyday. Today behavior should reflect and model; tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, and open-mindedness. -MODELING

To unravel moral questions you must know how to analyze a dilemma objectively and evaluate its essential components. -REFLECTION"

I chose this list of schools setting suggestions and teaching suggestions because these are the things that I follow in my room. My students know how I feel about respect, tolerance, understanding, compassion, etc. because I show that to them. I treat them like human beings who are going to be working/living/growing in this world. It is my job to help them make sense of the world through the safety of my room.

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This chapter has changed me because I have opened my eyes to new ways to engage my students, and to gain their trust. This chapter has kept me accountable and constantly acknowledging my responsibility to shape the kids who enter my classroom.

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"We believe that teachers should be major participants in financial and governance policy decisions. The recent trend toward testing teachers and rating schools is an example of what happens when teachers are left out of policy circles...[Teachers] should be advocates for children... Teachers and students find themselves the victims of rising educational expectations but limited educational resources... Even the bare necessities of classroom resources are often inadequate, and teachers are forced to dig into their own pockets to buy school supplies."

I chose this quote because I have seen first-hand that teachers are not treated as professionals. Teachers and students have increasingly difficult standards to uphold, with not a lot of resources to do so. I want to become part of a decision making department/union/team to advocate for teachers/students/educational financial rights.

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"Even in underfunded schools, teachers like you can make a difference. [Have] a strong connection to [your community and the families within it]."

I chose this quote because it gave me hope. I really want to teach in public schools, with kids who need a teacher like me to believe in them. Oftentimes students and their families will lose hope because the staff of their schools have lost hope. Teachers begin to teach without a connection to their students, community and staff. Creating those connections can be a crucial turning point in the well-being and growth of the student body.

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"Wealthy communities [have practices to] prevent parents from fleeing 'to private school if they don't perceive the public education to be excellent."

I have chosen this quote because I believe that wealthy schools have an unfair advantage. The schools that are wealthy have fundraising online and through PTA, as well as connections financially with local businesses and educational foundations. I think that this is a form of gentrification, staying/moving into a different area and having an impact that either changes it or leaves the area destitute. My husband went to Clarence High School, and I went to Kenmore West High School. Although KWHS is not a 'poor' school, it does not have near the amount of funding that it should. Clarence high school is a 98% white populated school that just paid for a new arts program and a new sports field. Clarence has incentives to keep their wealthier families and students in their district. Kenmore West does not.

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I have been educated on how the economy effects school budgets and who governs financial decisions for schools in America.

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"Walk into a progressivist classroom and you will not find a teacher standing at the front of the room talking to rows of seated students. Rather, you will likely see children working in small groups, moving about and talking freely.

Progressivists build the curriculum around the experiences, interests, and abilities of students, and encourage students to work together cooperatively."

It is important to note that the students are not completely alone to fend for themselves. The teacher will likely walk around the room, checking on individual students and making suggestions. The progressivist classroom is student based, and although not my first choice of how to run a classroom, I definitely steal certain aspects of this philosophy in my own teaching.

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"Social reconstructionism [is different from progressivism because it is] a more ambitious, and clearly more radical, approach to education."

Social reconstructionism is about reforming society and creating a classroom and curriculum that solely focus their efforts towards the betterment of social inequities. This is important to me because almost every unit that I do, informs my students of something socially that they have the power to change.

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"A social reconstructionist teacher creates lessons that both intellectually inform and emotionally stir students about inequities that surround them..."

I chose this quote simply because it is the entire philosophy of my teaching. Although social justice continuously changes, as does my philosophy, the idea of wanting my students to understand those changes and to act upon them always remains. I want my classroom/lessons/activities to be culturally responsive as well as engaging in intellect

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I have been working on my educational philosophy for years. I have drafted it, re-drafted again, and I have accepted that my philosophy will be ever growing. What has changed now is that I know that I believe in being progressive and well as incorporating social reform in my classroom.

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"Thomas Jefferson wanted to go beyond educating a small elite class or providing only religious instruction... Public citizens began to question the usefulness of rudimentary skills taught in a school year... they questioned the value of mastering Greek and Latin [when] practical skills were in short supply..."

This quote is important to me because people questioning what they were learning, jump started the movement of public education. Although Thomas Jefferson was a terrible person who did not want people of color to be educated, he knew that the things that were valued in education should be questioned.

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"Horace Mann became the nation's leading advocate for the establishment of a common school (public school). [He] believed that public education should serve both practical and idealistic goals. In practical terms, both business and industry would benefit from educated workers... in idealistic terms, public schools should help us identify and nurture the talents in poor as well as wealthy children..."

I chose this quote because public education is near and dear to my heart. I believe in the need to value all children no matter their socioeconomic status, and each child should have a chance to better their lives through education.

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"For the teaching profession, seminaries became the source of new ideas and new recruits. [Seminary leaders] denounced corporal punishment, and promoted more cooperative educational practices. Because school was seen as an extensions of the home and another arena for raising children, seminary graduates were allowed to become teachers..."

This quote was interesting to me because is was progressive to have women pave the way for the teaching we know of today... it is also incredibly regressive that school was seen as another place to raise children. It is an on-going joke in my family that I am "babysitting". It makes me sad that teachers are not seen as professionals just because of an old mindset.

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I was unaware of the history of multicultural education. I have only learned philosophies and how to teach. I was unaware of how public schools became so and how deeply the separation of races/genders/etc in schools impacted children and teachers.

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"Student disengagement is a very real issue, and one that widens with time... knowing this it becomes all the more crucial to maximize learning opportunities..."

I chose this quote because it challenges me to think of ways to keep my students engaged in my classroom. I find myself questioning how I can help my students steer away from burnout, especially because I want to teach high school.

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"...Although a major goal of education is to increase students' curiosity and quest for knowledge, it is teachers, not students, who most often dominate and manage classroom interaction. Consequently, classroom interactions do not teach students to become active, inquiring, self-reliant learners."

This quote stuck out to me because I have been involved in so many classrooms who have a teacher based, direct instruction, lecture style. It is so rare to see a student based classroom. Many of the students in Dr. Harris' class were confused, and frustrated, because they were not used to being allowed to be creative. Dr. Harris allowed our class this year to creatively convey our knowledge, interact with fellow students, and gain knowledge on our own.

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"One of the most common misconceptions of individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds is that they do not value education. When poor parents miss a parent-teacher meeting, many in the middle or upper class assume that they are not committed to education. In reality, these absences may be due to working several jobs, struggling with unreliable transportation and child care, or difficulty with understanding or speaking English."

I chose this quote because I personally relate to it. I never grew up with a lot money. My mom was not a "PTA mom", bringing cookies and at every meeting. I had to do a lot on my own, be home alone because my mom worked... I remember having a teacher tell me the very first day of class that he does not expect a lot from me. I proved him wrong. I have always been such a good student who cared about my grades. I got 100% every single semester in his classroom. Circumstances do not speak for the person that is living within them.

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I am realizing that ridding myself of things that I assume about teenagers is what will help launch my teaching ability to a higher level. I have learned about bias against those in different socioeconomic situations, the importance of keeping students engaged, and that creating a student-based classroom will heighten learning.

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"We can correct [unconscious bias in leadership positions]. First step is to simply acknowledge that most of us have been shaped [by] societies hidden and institutional biases. The second challenged is to not feel ashamed about it... bias and racism are still with us..."

I chose this quote because this chapter touches on bridging gaps, and finding ways through our curriculum to educate our students on many different cultures (as well as be open to the experiences of other cultures ourselves). I can do my part as the teacher, to acknowledge that bias still exists by including important literature, themes and questions in my classroom community.

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"Depending on where you teach, you may or may not be able to include LGBTQA issues in your classroom..."

I chose to include this quote in this section because it bothers me. It bothers me that this world can be so progressive, yet so regressive at the same time. How can we teach diverse students if we do not acknowledge that they are visible?

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"A fixed mindset views intelligence as ability-focused, finite, and determined at birth... Growth mindset [suggests] that rather than being fixed at birth, intelligence can be developed through life, if we exert effort."

I chose this quote because it speaks to the feelings that many children face during their school years, especially within the classroom. I personally connect with this quote because I would always go into a difficult class with the mentality that I just "would never get" the subject. The teacher always called on the class "smart kid", and I always felt that I would never be able to learn and grow within a subject. It is my job as a teacher to help my students begin to lean towards their growth mindsets when they are in my classroom.

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"[As teachers] we offer a variety of challenging and involving activities in our classes... we not only maintain student interest, but also we can help students grow and cultivate their brains. [If] we teach a single learning style or use stereotypes in our teaching, we limit the brain's possibilities. [Incorporate] competitive and cooperative activities, integrating both personal connections and active learning, and focusing on the arts as well as traditional subjects."

I chose this quote because its touches on the fact that a classroom does not have one single type of student in it. Students learn in all different ways, some through traditional direct teaching/note taking, and some through more creative means. It is my responsibility as a teacher to be able to recognize my students strengths, and be able to cultivate those strengths in their learning.

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"Inclusion is at its heart a moral issue, one that raises the timeless principles of equality, justice, and the need for all of us to learn to live and grow together-not apart. [We] can rededicate ourselves to honoring and nurturing the unique talents of each student."

I chose this quotes because, for me, it is important to remember that a student may not be the greatest at writing or reading, but they are super great at understanding a character or researching the lesson's essential question. I have to be able to draw on my students' strengths and rid myself of bias.

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This chapter has really challenged me to question my own biases and to think about the importance of inclusion in the classroom. I have made it a point to look for the student who might need me most, and to begin asking more open-ended questions in my classroom that can be answered by all students. I have tried to incorporate different types of learning by bringing videos into my classroom, showing visuals, and letting my students engage in more Socratic discussion.

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"Does a high test score measure effective teaching, or student attendance, or the wealth and stability of the student's family, or just that the student had a good test day?"

I chose this quote because schools and teachers tend to forget that just because someone is a child, does not mean that they do not have a worthy life. Oftentimes their humanity is forgotten in the classroom and students just become 'another test score'. Students have struggles, stress and get overwhelmed as well. It is important to care and acknowledge the struggles that students face.

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"Teachers increasingly see themselves as reflective decision makers, selecting objectives and teaching procedures to meet the needs of different learners. They must know their subject matter, learning theory, research on various teaching methodologies, and techniques for curriculum development."

I chose this quote because it is not a rarity to hear that teachers are not often treated as professionals in their schools/by administration. Teachers are becoming confident in their professionalism. It takes a very special kind of person to be able to adapt to all different kinds of needs in the classroom, and I am proud to be a part of such an honorable duty.

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"...You are not alone. First-year teachers [gain] a great deal from discussions with fellow teachers, actual teaching experiences, and the help of mentors in the classroom."

I chose this quotes because when I first began the teacher education program five years ago, one of the first things I was told was to begin my networking of teacher friends/colleagues. Having a strong network of professionals in your field can make or break your performance in the classroom. Other teachers offer insight and give advice where needed. I have never met a teacher who was unwilling to help me, and even when I do I will be sure to keep their negativity out of my positive network.

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This chapter has changed how I feel about myself in the classroom. I am confident, strong, I know my worth as a professional, I have an amazing network of progressive/positive teachers who make me reach a higher level of potential each day. I acknowledge my students as human beings who deserve value and appreciation.

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"A successful teacher in [a multicultural community] will need to bridge possible racial, cultural, and language differences... cross-cultural knowledge is important."

I chose this quote because over the last five years of being at Buffalo State, and having teachers in my family, I have constantly heard the phrase; "Bridge the gap". It is so important for teachers to have a variety of works by many different cultures in their classrooms. Students should be reading books, poems and plays by people other than Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe. Although their writing has shaped our culture, we have to bridge the gap between what has been taught in schools for years and the other amazing pieces that are waiting to be read and understood. I recently taught at North Tonawanda High School. We read the short story Thank You, Ma'am, by Langston Hughes. NT High School is 98% white populated. I posed the question; "Why should you care about this story?" to each of my classes. They were silent, confused looking, and then they began to speak up about being able to bridge a gap between the culture that they know, and a culture that they should be educated about.

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This chapter has not changed me the most because it has always been in my philosophy/pedagogy to include diverse people, places, attitudes, literature and works of art into my classroom. This has always been important to me.