So far I have learned a great deal about teaching children from linguistically diverse backgrounds. I have learned the importance of including and validating other cultures in and outside of the classroom. Involving curriculum which not only includes students' cultures, but also exposes them to other cultures is valuable and useful in drawing students' attention. Providing similarities and connections betweens cultures is also important in the classroom. Incorporating these strategies provides acceptance as well as tolerance of diverse people in the classroom and in the community. I have become confident in these beliefs of incorporating cultures because our field trips within the community have shown me the great importance. This class has also taught me independence in my own thought as well as my own reflection of the community around me. I have come to realize diversity should not be ignored, rather it should be celebrated and honored. I have gained great knowledge throughout the course because everything has been in context and has provided me with a solid foundation of what is to come in my future classroom. I have gained the skills and strategies to communicate and build relationships with my future students. My emerging experience has changed my prior perspectives of my future students and the community surrounding me. I have been able to reflect greatly on what the future will hold for me as an educator, as well as how I will build trust and relationships within my classroom.
In terms of my grade, I feel I have met all requirements for the class so far. I have maintained an open mind and have learned a great deal because of it. This course truly has opened my eyes to diversity; something I knew I have lived with my entire life but never knew the importance of accepting and addressing diversity until now.
Suggestions for my own further development during the remainder of the semester would be to continue these community field trips because I feel they are extremely valuable to my learning experience. These field trips have only exposed me to my community as well as how my future students percieve things; and how I can build relationships with them to provide a quality education for them.
The only suggestion I have for my professor would be to continue the community field trips. They truly are a great learning experience and I have not been able to participate in anything similar to a community field trip in any other class that I am taking. I feel without these field trips, I would not have been exposed to the real issues that are in my community and these issues are also what my future students are dealing with themselves.