Week 7

                 As one can imagine, Mrs. Potter’s room seems daunting for even the best teacher. Every year it is a struggle to understand how each individual child is thinking, how they process information, and what they can produce on paper. It is even more difficult to accomplish this task when there are special needs children or students with learning disabilities. Regardless, Mrs. Potter is still accountable for her classroom, much like Carlisle points out in their article. In order for learning to be accomplished successfully in Mrs. Potter’s class, there are many changes she needs to make.

                First off, Mrs. Potter needs to take a step back and realize what her job title is. She is a teacher, one who teaches. Her job is not to conquer the world or to make every child a genius. Her job is to offer unto her students the proper foundational skills in order to learn for the rest of their lives. In order to do this, it is pertinent that Mrs. Potter understands that each and every child is one that should receive some amount of her attention as in the case of Lupita. Secondly, Mrs. Potter needs to understand that if she doesn’t take the time now to address the learning disabilities her students have, then who will later on down the road? Finally, Mrs. Potter must understand that every child does not learn in the same manner. I understand these ideas seem very specific and appear as though they will work, but it is important to remember that teaching is all trial and error, and even though I believe this will help Mrs. Potter’s classroom, it may take even more work than this.

                In the case of Lupita, Mrs. Potter has the opportunity to make a true impact on this child. Lupita does not have any learning disabilities, she has a learning disadvantage. As the writing state, Lupita was raised in a different country and has not had the same level of exposure to learning manipulatives as the other students. Regardless, she can learn just as well as the other students, but this requires taking time to catch up on what she has missed. I think the most important thing Mrs. Potter can do in this case is to offer Lupita some of her attention. Even more, if Lupita is successful at putting together puzzles, then she should receive the praise she deserves. Lupita’s migration is not an ample excuse for ignoring her in the classroom or giving her any less recognition. She is not only as deserving as the other students, but as an ESL student, she needs the encouragement to succeed later on in her education.

                In the case of Jonathan, I believe that Mrs. Potter has the opportunity to work alongside of his parents, as Carlisle suggested, to truly understand if Jonathan is displaying some difficulties with reading at home. The classroom does not fully demonstrate how a student learns or what they struggle with. Therefore, I believe that it is pertinent that Mrs. Potter keep a close eye on Jonathan and see exactly where he is struggling with reading, as well as asking his parents. If his parents tell Mrs. Potter that he only wants them to read aloud at home, right there is an indicator that he does not feel comfortable and confident with something. Parents may be the most valuable resource in this case.

                In the case of Eddie, well he sounds like every other little boy. Unfortunately, Eddie may struggle with some attention issues, but that does not necessarily mean that he is deserving of an ADHD medication. Instead, as a teacher, I believe that it is most efficient to mix up the day slightly; get your students out of the everyday routine and allow them to be explorers. Obviously movement triggered something in Eddie’s brain, therefore as a teacher Mrs. Potter needs to take that knowledge and figure out how she can use it in the classroom. If she is introducing motion, have Eddie be the one throwing the ball. In the case of Eddie, if you don’t engage him, you will probably lose his attention wholly. Therefore, let Eddie be in on the action and spur his creative mind toward using his strengths to the best benefit of the classroom.

                While all these ideas may seem overwhelming, they are not something that can be done quickly, they take time and creative thinking to attempt to bring all your students to one place in the classroom. Giving up is not an option…they are worth so much more! That is why the only option then is work hard to help them in any way possible.