Search Reflections

This research project has helped me develop a Christian view of diversity, because it has shown me how God's image-bearers come in many different forms and from many different backgrounds. I did not grow up in an extremely urban setting, so my work in this project has opened up a new world of education for me. I know simply reading about and hearing stories about urban education does not give me the full effect of what it is like, but I now have a strong foundation of insight in this area.

Throughout this process, I have also been able to meet some of the course objectives for EDUC 145 class, specifically numbers four and five. I understand that learners come to class with different skills, experiences, and challenges because of their individual backgrounds in prior learning, social interactions, language, culture, family, etc. Urban schools tend to have students from a variety of backgrounds, and their experiences are usually much different than students in more affluent, wealthy, or high-performing schools. I have to be aware of how the students' different experiences affect how they will act in the classroom. I also have to be respectful of what is going on in their lives outside of school and why that might make them act out or not pay attention. I also have learned how to access information about the values of different cultures and communities, and I can incorporate learners' experiences, cultures, and community resources into my future instruction. I have learned more about doing good research related to this topic, and knowing how communities in urban areas tend to approach school and their children's education is very helpful in meeting this objective. I can make an effort to connect our learning to what students are experiencing outside of school and what is going on in their community that they can relate to.

Because of the amount I have learned in relation to urban education, I have become even more interested in the topic and could see myself teaching in that type of setting. If I were to do this, I definitely feel more prepared after doing this research. However, I know it would take years of practice and learning while actually teaching in an urban or high-poverty school in order to get better at it and truly reach my students. I know I would have a lot to learn from them.

Overall, I did not see any gaps or conflicting information in my research, but I will say that not all schools are the same. Not all urban schools are the same, not all high-poverty schools are the same, and not all urban schools are high-poverty. You really have to take a closer look at each school in particular and not make assumptions about what it is like. Not only that, but each student is also unique and has grown up in a different way than others. It is important to be respectful of students, even when they are not respectful to me. It takes a lot of work to love students who do not act very lovable or who do not act how you expect them to, but the work we put in as teachers is worth it, and we really can make a difference.