Culture of Universal Achievement

Week 1: Culture of Universal Achievement

EDU650: Teaching Learning and Leading in the 21st Century

Culture of Universal Achievement

Do you ever wonder what the student progression rate would look like if teachers would work together and create a successful teaching system? In many school districts, teachers attend hours long teaching seminars but do we really take from them and put them into action. Coming together and putting into action a universal system that goes beyond just teaching is the only way we will see this progression rate. As a teacher, I must stop and get a clear concept of why I teach and use that to work together with other teachers to ensure that there is no student that goes without being reached.

Key Concept & Theory to Practice

How can a student be all they can be without a strong support system and people that want to help them achieve all they can. This concept is one of many that Damen Lopez (2013), who created and helped to implement a system that helped teachers regain their reason for teaching. He suggested that “The potential of an individual student is limited only by the desire for an adult to draw upon it” (Lopez, 2013, p. ). He stated concepts should help that adult in that student’s life to see them and to see them as an individual and help them to meet their potential. It is safe to say that without that adult drawing upon their potential that student will have no one to help build and guide him and therefore may fall through the cracks. This concept is relevant to my personal life as well as professional because my goal is to always provide my students with everything that they will need to be successful students. If I as that adult in their life see that child’s potential and encourage him then they will have that chance to be successful.

A child’s potential to become something greater is built upon those people that are in their circle. This circle consists of people that are meant to help them but also may consist of those that may have a negative impact on them. This is a profound statement from Hamdi Serin (2017) who published a journal discussing the importance of passion of the teacher. “Passionate teachers are committed to creating an effective learning environment and increase the learning potential of students” (Serin, 2017, p.60). One theory to practice listed in the book written by Damien Lopez is to think back on that one person that may have helped to break a chain of events. My teachers were those people. The passion to help me succeed in life was stemmed from those teachers who had that passion to teach and to help me reach my potential. I can honestly say that without them having that passion to help me I would not have made it. In my personal as well as my professional life I must always keep that passion to help my students be all they can.

Six Beliefs

Working with children is one career that a person chooses because everyone is not meant to teach. Teaching takes dedication and a drive that goes beyond just a paycheck. Damen Lopez (2013) is a profound author and creator of six beliefs that a school should have. The first and most important belief to me is there are no excusues for poor effort. This belief states that teachers must have standards that will place them as role models that the students want see. If the teacher believes that growth in learning is possible and have a positve outlook on learning the students will as well. This is the most important to me because it creates a standard that the I must always stand for positivity and not allow any type of negativity to be shown. The second most important to me would be the maverick spirit must lead the way. A maverick spirit to me means always wanting to achieve greatness and push passed what may seem impossible to achomplish and making a believer out of those which may have shown doubt. Following behind this would be the school can neutralize many challaanges that students bring to the classroom. This belief means that eventhough students have lives outside of the classroom this should never affect their ability to learn and there should be safe haven when they walk through the doors. Without having this belief it may be impossible to reach them in order to teach them. The next important belief is student achievment is the number one topic of conversation. This means the conversation between staff should always be positive and about ways to help better the situation versus belittling the process. The next belief is the academic accomplisment of every student is an obsession. This means that if my main focus for teaching is not the growth of the students and helping them to meet their potential then I should not be teaching. I should always strive to see what I can do to help make sure I am prepared to teach. Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, witing, and math is the final belief. This belief means that the end result of teaching is ensuring that each student has met their developmental goals in their content areas. Even though this is listed as the least important thing it is still a crucial belief. I listed it as the least because I believe if the other beliefs are upheld then each child will be provided with everything they will need to meet this belief. Richard Newman (2019) stated that, “If teachers can better understand their beliefs, assumptions, and values, they can ensure that their behaviors reflect their beliefs” (Newman, 2019). Teachers must always make sure they are teaching for the right reason and with the right intentions. Each of the six beliefs are very important when teaching and without these beliefs then I do not think students will be able to reach their potential.

My Moment/Decision

I knew I wanted to be in the educational field when I was in the 3rd grade. I had the most amazing teacher that helped me believe in myself. As my school day went on I grew the desire to want to help children to learn and have that same belief in themselves. Then my mother opened her own childcare center and I was all in. Her love to teach her children that attended her center was amazing. When I became a mother that same love and passion to teach grew even stronger and then I began my career in Head Start.

Conclusion

These Key Concepts, Theory to Practice, the Six Beliefs will be used in future work and educational endeavors to ensure that I always remain focused and strive to provide my future students with the necessary support to reach their potential. By doing this it can ensure that they never give up on themselves.

References

Hamdi Serin. (2017). The role of passion in learning and teaching. International journal of social sciences & educational studies, (1), 60. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.23918/ijsses.v4i1p60

Lopez, D. (2013). No Excuses University: How six exceptional systems are revolutionizing our schools (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu

Newman, R. (2019). Teaching and learning in the 21st century: Connecting the dots (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu

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