Entry 1: Introduction
Salutations~ My name is Audrey Lai. I am a senior at the University of Houston. I will graduate in December with a Bachelors in Teaching and Learning (EC-6).
https://youtu.be/fmFkmBuU0o8
I'm currently in my second semester of student teaching at Carter Elementary School; I have previously taught kindergarten and now teach third grade. The experience was thrilling, memorable, and heartwarming.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I am Chinese-Taiwanese and the first child in my family to fully attend University. Both my parents were immigrants from Taiwan and speak fluent Mandarin and Taiwanese dialects. I'm bilingual; my first language is English, and I was taught how to speak Mandarin over time. I have been learning to speak Mandarin and write Chinese since I was six. Today, I use my skills and knowledge in Chinese to help my parents understand English or translate for them at times, and even while I'm working, I speak Chinese for students in ESL or others who need communication instead of using English.
My teaching philosophy is to create a safe, comfortable learning environment for my students. I want them to come into the classroom feeling reassured and comfy, like home. I want to teach my students about my language and help them be confident. Wright (2010) mentions that a student's academic success depends on how the school and people treat them, their language, their culture, their families, and their communities. I want all my students to succeed, and I would provide considerate and beneficial equipment and strategies for my ELL students to succeed and still appreciate and love their language. Teaching students about other cultures and diversities in elementary schools will help students develop an understanding and appreciation for different cultures. According to Wright, "how educators choose to view their ELLs affects how they organize teaching and learning in their classes and how administrators structure programs in their school and district." Wright (2010)
Teaching diversity will help promote considerate empathy and understanding among students and peers. Students need to understand that sharing differences can help with growth and becoming stronger.
I look forward to learning more about teaching philosophies and attending this semester.
References:
Wright, W. E. (2010). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research,
theory, policy, and practice. Caslon Publishing
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your blog and wanted to further add to the subject you elaborated on about educators being aware and understanding of the languages, experiences, and backgrounds each individual student brings forth to the table. According to Wright, “Educators who work with ELLs must be aware of the diversity in their schools and surrounding communities.” (pg. 23). I believe culture is the foundation in which we build our identity and influences how we engage with the outside world. Our goal as future teachers is to foster learning environments where differences are understood and celebrated, from whole group instruction to simple exchange of conversation. This can also be seen by teachers inquiring students to share stories and relate their cultural experiences to the lesson that’s being taught, not only demonstrating a desire for the teacher to be culturally aware but also establishing inclusivity and equity in the classroom. To create culturally aware classrooms, it’s imperative to have educators willing to work and commit to embracing cultural diversity.
ReplyDeleteWright, W. E. (2019). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Brookes Publishing Company.
Hello Alyssa, thank you for commenting on my blog post. Thank you for also sharing your opinions as well! Languages and cultures deserve to be understood and celebrated on their uniqueness. We're entering a time where diversity should be embraced or appreciated more. I believe we should always honor our future students home language and also ensure to create understanding and comforting learning enviornments.
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