Physical Developments of Young Children and Adolescents

Children grow up so quickly, but they grow differently at every age group. Different skills are obtained, and different interests occur. Physical development is a natural occurrence in youth, and they can be categorized by different age groups. The progression of infancy to adulthood is important to study when teaching children and dealing with children on a constant basis. It is also important to know about the physical changes in children and when they occur if you are a parent. From early childhood to adolescence, it is important to understand how a child develops physically.

Early childhood is a developmental age groups that includes children from the age of two to six years old. Early childhood is characterized by physical developments. During early childhood children change physically because they loss their baby features. Their features become less soft and their limbs get longer and become more in proportion to their bodies. At the early childhood level children have large amounts of energy and enjoy "running, hopping, tumbling, climbing, and swinging" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 106). Fine motor skills are developing and the need for afternoon naps are decreasing during this age group.

Adolescence is a developmental age group that encompasses children from the age of ten to eighteen. Early adolescence includes children from the age of ten to fourteen and these children grow rapidly, and this is also the time when puberty begins. Children of this age have more "risk taking behavior", and they are "self- conscious of resulting physical developments" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 107). Late adolescence is the age group that includes fourteen to eighteen year olds. During this age girls "complete their growth spurts" and attain their "mature heights" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 107). Boys are likely to increase in size as well during this age. Both sexes will have extreme appetite increases and increases in sexual activity. Late adolescences are more prone to making risky decisions such as unprotected sex, drug use, and eating disorders during this period of time.

All children are different. All children have their own personalities and grow at their own rates, but there are basic age groups that children can be identified by. These age groups are characterized by certain physical developments. It is important to recognize and understand these developments.

References:

McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, J. (2004). Child Development: Educating and Working with Children and Adolescents (2nd ed.). : Prentice Hall

by Sarah Ganly

Lost Character Analysis: Kate Austen

Kate Austen has played a main role in ABC's hit series Lost since the first episode. She is beautiful, mysterious, kind, gentle ... and possibly, a murderer. Kate is an interesting character because she is persistent and has an odd edge to her. She seems to have a kind heart but has led a dark past, and I can only guess what the future holds for her.

So we are not given enough information on Kate's past to know if she really murdered her step father, but she might have. She seems to have a good heart, but the marshal that is chasing her does not seem to think so. In the beginning of the series we find out that she was arrested in Australia, and is traveling home handcuffed and all to await trial. Jack and Hurley find the marshal's case file on her past crimes early on and Jack calls her on it. Kate is a very closed person and does not tell Jack enough to know what happened.

We also know that Kate helped her persuaded lover rob a bank in the past. The interesting part here is that she did not rob the bank for the money, but for a little toy plane in a safety deposit box in the bank. We are later led to believe that this plane was her childhood sweetheart's and it had emotional attachment. We are also allowed to find out that she did something to harm her childhood love and that is why the toy is important.

Kate is currently one of the leaders of the camp, and she is invested in trying to leave the island. It may be her need to run away that urges her to leave the island because she does not seem to have much to back to. Whatever happened between her and her step father has caused Kate's mother to hate her. Kate plays a strong role in the lives of other characters on the show as well.

Kate is in a strange sort of love triangle between Jack and Sawyer. It is obvious that they both are in love with her, and it seems that she wants Jack in the beginning. She kisses him at one point when they are alone in the jungle, but then gets scared and apologizes. She later on sleeps with Sawyer, multiple times, and Jack finds out. Jack seems to still love her, but he ends up shacking up with one of the others for some reason.

Kate is very mysterious because she does not let anyone into her past. She refuses to talk about her past to everybody, and this may be one of the fears she has to overcome. In the last episode of the last season she appears. She is in one of the flash forward to the future sequence, and she looks healthy. She is not in jail, and despite Jack wanting to go back to the island, it seems that Kate is happy and doing well.

I do not know what will happen with Kate, and I do not know who she ends up with in the future, but I know she will make it interesting to find out!

By 

Sarah Ganly

Jalapeno Jelly: A Strange but Delicious Treat

When most people think of jalapenos, they think of spicy food like tacos or burritos, but I am going to dispel the natural inclinations that jalapenos create with this recipe. The recipe I am talking about is jalapeno jelly, and although it sounds strange, it is super delicious and not very hot. This jelly can add an incredible, distinct flavor to any meal and is good just by itself!

The first thing you need to do is gather your ingredients. Here is a list of the following ingredients needed for this super great treat.

1 c. green bell pepper, cut lengthwise, chopped, or minced * whatever you prefer, I chop mine finely* this should be about 1 medium sized bell pepper
You may also use a little red pepper to add color!

1 1/2 c. cider vinegar

1/3 c. fresh jalapeno peppers with seeds *once again cut as preferred, and remove seeds if you do not want it to be spicy*

5 c. granulated sugar

1 pouch (3 oz.) liquid pectin

Some people also add a few drops of green food coloring, but that is up to you.

Now that you have all the ingredients, the fun can start!

Combine both peppers, vinegar, and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil. Let the mixture boil for 5 minutes. After it has boiled remove it from heat and skim foam off of top. Remove from heat and mix in the pectin. This is also the time when you would mix in the food coloring if desired. Let the jelly jars cool for 2 minutes.

If you are preserving the jellies this would be the time where you boil them for 15 minutes. After they have sealed set on counter to cool. After 30 minutes invert the jars in order to mix the peppers further into the jelly. If they are not inverted the peppers will settle to one section of the delicious jelly mixture.
This recipe makes about 5 cups and is an excellent present for Christmas if you substitute some of the green pepper for red. You may also substitute the fresh jalapenos for canned or bottled jalapenos, but use ¼ a cup of these peppers instead.

This recipe is easy and fun to make. It adds an incredibly unique flavor and spice combination to any meal and shoul be used more often. So don't be scared when jalapeno and jelly is put in the same sentence. Try this recipe yourself and you will see how tasty it is!

Becoming an Effective Teacher: Setting and Achieving Goals

Being a teacher is a very demanding job in many aspects, and a teacher's job never ends. When the class ends, and the students go home, the teacher is still working, and most teachers work many more hours a day than can be imagined. A lot of work goes into the classes that seem to end so quickly.

Society and students are constantly changing, so there are constantly new things to learn as a teacher; there are also many programs and organizations that can be joined in order to maintain expertise and be a beneficial teacher. In order to become a teacher I will have to achieve many goals, develop professionally on a person level and through the use of programs, learn to assess my progress and teaching strategies, stay motivated, and develop leadership skills. This will be a very demanding task, but it is completely worthwhile in my pursuit of education.

In the next five years there are many goals that I must complete in order to become a teacher. One of the most complicated goals I must achieve in order to become a certified teacher is choosing which state I want to teach in. This is a very difficult decision to make for me because I am not so sure where I want to live, and I know that every state has different requirements in order to become a certified teacher. I suppose that if I am not sure where I want to buy a house, when I am ready to become certified, that I will become certified in the state of New York. If I am certified in New York, I can apply to become certified for whichever state I choose to live in. Another goal I have in the next five years will be to complete many art classes such as art history, figure drawing, ceramics, and mixed media. I will have to take many art classes in order to fulfill the requirements for being an art teacher, and I would like to take these classes in order to improve my artistic skills as well. There are some problems with this goal because the University of Phoenix does not provide art classes to the students, and I will need these classes to complete my goals. In order to do this I will probably have complete my associate degree through the University of Phoenix, and transfer to a local college. I would prefer to continue to take classes on line so I will try to find a college that also supports online classes, and I will have to alternate between attending a college physically and taking classes on the computer. I would also like to eventually become a mentor or support mentoring programs in my school districts. I feel that as a mentor I would be able to help many new teachers, and this would increase the overall levels of education for the teachers and students. I have many goals that will increase my level of professionalism as a teacher and as a person, and there will be many obstacles to overcome, but in the long run it will be worth it. The next five years will require a lot of hard work, but the end results will be great accomplishments.

In the far future I would like to become a nationally accredited teacher, but this will take a lot of work as well. I would like to become a member of the "The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards" because there are many benefits that can come from it. As a member of this board I will meet "most states' definition of "highly qualified teacher" and my abilities to teach will be strengthened (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2007). This accreditation will provide me with more opportunities in more areas, and it will make it easier for me to transfer to different states without having to become certified all over again. In many states being a member of this organization will also apply towards the certification process which is also helpful. Becoming a member does take time and effort. Applicants are required to have a "bachelor degree", "Have completed three full years of teaching/counseling experience", and "possess a valid state teaching/counseling license for that period of time, or, if teaching where a license is not required, have taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the state" (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2007). There is an assessment process that you must complete in order to become a member of this organization, and there are fees and funding provided to become a member of the NBPTS. There is a total of 3065 dollars worth of fees, but the board offers payment plans and there are federal, state, and school district funding options(National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2007).. This organization is expensive, but it will be a good investment if I want to relocate often. There are many important principles that need to be fulfilled in order to become and continue to be an effective teacher. I think the hardest principle for me would be to understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.

There are many important principles that need to be fulfilled in order to become and continue to be an effective teacher. I think the hardest principle for me would be to understand "how students differ in their approaches to learning and create(s) instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners" (INTASC Principles, para. 3). I feel this would be the harder for me because I am not accustomed to dealing with students with disabilities. It is important to be aware of the needs of your students and I would like to be fully capable of teaching students in the way that will be most effective to them. I am also not fluent in other languages, and this would be beneficial with bilingual students and English language learners. There are many programs that I can take in order to become more knowledgeable in the area of diversity in education. The "Heritage Institute" is an institute that provides many programs for teachers; these programs cover many important topics related to English language learners, and special education students (The Heritage Institute, n.d.). I think these programs will be extremely beneficial to me, and it is convenient that they can be taken over the internet. They are not extremely expensive, and the institute is accredited by the "the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools". This school also offers art classes so I am very interested in what opportunities it has to offer me (The Heritage Institute, n.d.). There are many diverse needs that I will have to accommodate as a teacher, and this institute offers so many classes that can be helpful with this challenge. This institute offers programs such as "HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION in MIXED ABILITY CLASSROOMS", "ENGAGING LEARNERS Through POPULAR MEDIA", and "CULTURALLY SENSITIVE CLASSROOMS" (The Heritage Institute, n.d.). This institute can provide me with a wide range of course that can help me become a better, more effective teacher overall.

As a teacher there will be a need to constantly evaluate myself. In order to be an effective teacher and to constructively evaluate my actions and how they affect the students, parents, and school faculty around me, I will keep a journal. A lot can go on during the day in a classroom; there is an incredible amount of interaction is schools, and it will be hard to remember everything. I will write down my thoughts on the day, and how they classes went during my lunch break if I can, and after the students are dismissed. This journal will help me organize my thoughts and feelings and it will help me keep track of everything that has occurred. It will also be an excellent record for the future, and I will be able to look back on it at all times. It will be a beneficial tool in my learning and the learning of the students because it will give me the information required to better evaluate and construct lesson plans. It will also give me a more accurate account of events that have occurred and I will later be able to analyze and decide on the best methods of handling conflicts as they occur. This journal will also be extremely helpful as an organizational tool. I can incorporate my lesson plans, the student's reactions, and my reactions as well into the journal, and this will be a huge benefit when I am creating new lesson plans and for the year ahead. I will also be able to make notes on the learning styles of the students which will increase the student's ability to learn because I will be able to accommodate them better in the future. I think creating a journal will also benefit me mentally because I will know what points have gone over and I will be able to pick up where I left off. Emotionally this will also be a productive tool for me as a teacher because it will help relieve some of the stress from the day. By writing down what happened I will be able to release some of the thoughts in my head and look at them in a new perspective. At the very least this will be an excellent tool for substitutes when I get sick because they will have a lot of important information on the class. Creating a journal is a simple idea that does not take a lot of time, but will be extremely helpful in the long run.

As a teacher I am required to lead the class, and there are certain factors that can influence a teacher's leadership abilities. I believe that as a teacher it is extremely important to promote respect, and show respect in all of what you do. If you provide students with respect they will respect you in return. Integrity is another important factor of leadership; it is important to be consistent in order to be respected and instill positive values and productive reinforcement for students. If a teacher has integrity this will increase the teacher's credibility to the students as well as develop a better relationship amongst the teacher and the students and faculty. I will also be sure to be knowledgeable of the subject matter I am teaching because with out knowledge of the subject I can not lead. Knowledge of the students and there abilities and talents is also important. It is also important to be knowledgeable of the community and current events in order to reach students in the most beneficial way. If I am fully aware of the classroom, students, subject, and the world around me I will be respected and capable of leading. In order to be an extremely good leader I will also have to be aware of the needs of my students. I will have to consistently listen to them and I will have to take their concerns into consideration at all times. The student's success is my goal as a teacher so I will have to be an excellent leader in many ways.

Teaching is constantly challenging and requires a person to develop many personal, social, mental, emotional, and professional skills, but it is extremely rewarding in many ways. There are many factors that can influence a teacher's impact on the student's success. As a teacher I will have to consistently continue to learn, and I will consistently have to continue to adapt to me students needs. I will have to maintain leadership while allowing students to learn responsibility and I will have to guide them not only by teaching, but continuing to learn myself. There are many steps I will have to take in order to become an excellent teacher, and I feel that to continue to teach well I will have to continue to learn everyday, and this will be a lot of hard work, but it will be extremely rewarding. Being a teacher is rewarding because I will be instilling knowledge in the world around me, and I will be continuing to grow, develop, and learn as a person. I can not imagine anything better than this, and I think if more people were constantly striving to learn themselves the world would be a better place. This is why I want to teach, and instilling the idea of life long learning in children is more than enough reason for me to continue to face the challenges associated with teaching.

Reference
INTASC Principles. (n.d.). Interstate new teachers assessment and support consortium. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from http://cte.jhu.edu/pds/resources/intasc_principles.htm

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (2007). Eligibilty and policies. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from http://www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/eligibilitiy_policies

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (2007). The benefits. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from http://www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/the_benefits

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (2007). Fees and financial support. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from http://www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/fees_financial_support

The Heritage Institute. (n.d.). Continuing education for teachers of K-12. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from http://www.hol.edu/index.cfm

Depression: Natural Remedies and Supplements

Feeling blue lately? Feeling like you are stuck in a slump and can't get yourself out of it? Well, you are not alone. Ten million Americans are struck with depression at some point in their lives. If depression goes untreated or undiagnosed for long periods of time, the depressed person and people around them will inevitably suffer. For those of you without medical insurance or those of you who do not like to take prescription drugs, I have compiled the following list of natural remedies that can be found at your local drugstore.

St John's wart is probably the most popular herbal remedy for depression. This herb is a powerful tool against depression and can also help as an antibiotic and antiviral medicine. St John's wart is a natural antidepressant that takes about 3 weeks to a month in order for the effects to be fully noticed.

SAMe or SAM-e is an amino acid that helps repair the neurotransmitters in one's brain. People with depression usually have poor rector sites and a decreased amount of dopamine and serotonin. This amino acid also helps relieve pain associated with migraines and arthritis.

Fish oil, also known as Omega-3, is a very effective remedy for depression. People suffering from depression have seemed to have a lower level of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood. There are many studies that show that fish oil has improved the depression levels of many people. This remedy is useful to all of those suffering from depression.

Ginko Biloba is another well known cure for depression. This remedy increases blood flow through the body and helps improve circulation. This herb is a powerful antidepressant and antioxidant.

Ginseng is known to help aid people who are depressed. This cure is helpful to those who are depressed because it stimulates the immune system. It also is know to help people cope with stress and other external hardships. Ginseng is also helpful at regulating blood sugar levels.

5-HTP is another natural remedy for depression. 5-HTP is an amino acid that helps to increase the level of serotonin produced by the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that promotes happiness, and level out mood swings. This supplement is an effective method for ailing depression, and it also helps with weight loss.

Depression is a terrible thing that many people struggle with, but there are many natural supplements that ca be taken in order to help fight this problem. All of these remedies take some time in order to take affect, but the results are worth it.

Herbal Plants with Medicinal Properties

Many plants have medicinal properties that should not be taken for granted. There are many methods of preparing herbs that can make them easily consumed by people who are sick. These herbs can be prepared easily and grow without much effort. Here is a list of common herbs that can be used for many different ailments.

Aloe is a very useful plant that has many beneficial properties. Aloe is useful for many skin conditions, and not only prevents infections, and helps heal wounds. This plant can be used to treat burns and moisturize skin.

Chamomile is a common herb that can be used to relieve migraines. It is also helpful with insomnia, anxiety, skin infections, and digestion. Chamomile is also known to help with the common cold, eczema, and gastrointestinal conditions.

Dandelion is a common weed, and many people do not realize how useful a dandelion is. Dandelions are everywhere and can be used to treat liver and spleen problems. These flowers are also helpful when treating kidney disease and heartburn. Dandelion roots are also good for treating appetite loss, and these flowers are used to detoxify the gallbladder and liver. 

Flaxseed is a plant that can be grown very easily and has many advantageous properties. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil is useful for a healthy diet and health conditions. It can help with high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems. Flaxseed is also helpful to decrease menopausal symptoms and menstrual breast pain. Flaxseed can be used as a laxative too.

Lavender is a beautiful plant that smells lovely and has many beneficial purposes. Lavender can help with anxiety, hair loss, and depression. This herb is also useful with ear pain, hair loss, eczema, and pain. Lavender is also helpful when added to a bath and used for aromatherapy.

Peppermint is a tasty, fragrant smelling herb that can be used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Peppermint can help with nausea and common cold symptoms. This herb is also used to help ail cramps, headache, joint pain, and stomach problems. Peppermint can also be used to invigorate the spirit through aromatherapy.

Valerian is an herb that is grown all over the world. It is used to treat skin conditions such as acne and sores. This herb is also used for urinary tract disorders, flatulence, digestive issues, and sleep disorders. It is also know to be effective when treating depression.

There are many herbs that are taken for granted, and these herbs should be used and grown for their medicinal properties.

Is Standardized Testing for Students Truly Beneficial?

I feel that testing students is an important factor in providing good education. Many students are failing to meet education standards set forth by the federal government, and I feel standardized tests can play a part in helping to solve this issue.

I do not feel that students should be randomly tested and that teachers should take the full weight of these test results. I believe that all grade levels should be tested by governing school districts. If all students are tested every year, instead of twice in their elementary schools than the educational problems can be narrowed down.

It is not unrealistic to assume that many students do not always reflect the knowledge they have gained on tests, but a standardized test that does not influence their grades will be less threatening, and this will cause the test to more accurately reflect the student's level of education.

If testing is monitored and administered on a school district basis, problems in education can be determined more easily. If all the students in 6th grade are not doing as well, than the classroom comes into question, and results and changes can occur to improve this problem. If students are tested in 4th and 8th grade, than there is no sure way of discerning when and where the learning problem began.

I am aware that teachers are under pressure to make sure that their students do well on these tests and this can have a negative effect on education, but if all grade levels are tested than I believe that the true problems can be routed out instead of pushed onto other people.

The problem with education can not and should not fall into one poor teacher's lap. This is ridiculous. There are many people who are responsible for the education of the future generations, and if more people realized how important education is and their support of education is, than maybe there would be not issues with the education level of our youth.

Communities are responsible for student's education because they help decided what factors in education are focused on and they help fund schools. Students are also responsible for their educations, and their parents are responsible for teaching them to value education. Local schools are responsible for maintaining the best possible educational experience they can for students. School districts and the state are responsible for making sure the teachers and classes are prepared, and the federal government is also responsible for promoting and demanding that education be a priority.

For all of these reasons I do not think that random testing is good, and I do not think that teachers are can be solely blamed for the lack of learning in schools. I do believe that yearly testing in each and every grade can serve as a good judgment for what areas need to be improved upon, but I do not feel that without effort on the part of everyone the education levels in our country will increase.

Educational and Instructional Philosophies

There are many instructional philosophies that can be incorporated into the classroom. I believe that Western, Eastern, and Native North American philosophies all have a great amount of knowledge to offer, and as a teacher I would incorporate all of these philosophies into my classes. Math, science, and reason are all very valuable lessons, and when teaching these lessons I would incorporate respect for the world around us. I would explain how important the world around us is and I would emphasize that this was the reason we have to learn about it. I would try to show the students how amazing the world is and how everything works together. I think that if this is established than a respect for the world around us will be formed naturally. I would also incorporate the ideas of wisdom, patience, and inner peace into the classroom because they are valuable life lessons. These lessons can help people grow as people and be more capable of learning at the same time. These instructional philosophies will affect my management role as a teacher because I will have to set the example. I will have to have patience, and respect, and enthusiasm for the subject. I think practicing these ideas will improve my teaching ability and help me grow as a person.

There are many different educational philosophies that can be used in order to teach effectively. As a teacher I would probably use both constructivist and behaviorist educational philosophies because I feel both of these philosophies play a role in the classroom learning environment. I would focus on constructivism for the lesson plans because I do believe that students learn the most from hands on activities and I feel that involving the students may increasing their desire to learn. I also would use the concept of positive and negative reinforcement in the classroom because I think it is a valuable tool in teaching. I think behaviorism is also a form of involving the students because they know what to expect from the way they act. Positive reinforcement is also a way of encouraging a student to learn and to think, and giving the students the ability to learn hands on and think things through themselves is the best way to teach. These philosophies will affect my management role because I will have to be very aware and knowledgeable of my students. I will have to remember to give them reinforcement and I will have to design lesson plans that will involve the students in a hands-on way. I think this will be a positive thing and will make the classroom more fun and exciting for everyone.

Individual Diversity, Conflict Management, and Teamwork

Individual diversity and conflict management relate to teamwork in several ways. Teams are made up of individuals and conflicts will always occur in group settings. Individual diversity and conflict management are things that relate to teamwork because they can be the success or failure of a team.

Individual diversity is inevitable; we are all different and have our own unique personality. Although many people may share traits and characteristics each person has their own background, environment, and beliefs that have made them who they are today. Individual diversity may seem like something that would seperate people, but in fact it can be a common uniter. Individual diversity is directly related to teamwork because it can provide progress and ideas that a team would not be able to come up with if every member of the team was the same.

Conflict management is something that is necessary to teamwork and everyday life. It is important to understand that conflicts do not have to be avoided or blown out of proportion, and if conflicts can be managed they can actually provide all members of a conflict with a valuable learning situation. Conflict management is something that is important for all people to understand and practice in all areas of their life, and it is extremely important when working within a team.

Individual diversity and conflict management are key factors to the success or failure of a team, and it is important to take both of these factors into consideration when working within a team. Individual diversity provides a team with several different areas of intelligence, learning, and personality, and this makes a team dynamic. These differences add strength and knowledge to a team, and these differences allow a team to see tasks on several different levels. Without individual diversity teams would be much less productive, and the "more attuned you are to abilities and personal traits the better you will be at identifying the tasks that you and others can best perform in team situations" (Bishop, Cartee, & Kravits, 2007) . Conflict management is another idea that can make or break a team. If conflicts are seen as a way of understanding and learning then much more can be accomplished, but if conflicts are avoided them they will remain and cause a stalemate in productivity.

It is important to take the individual diversity of team members into account when working in a group, and it is also important to practice conflict management in order to be productive. Both of these ideas are key factors that will determine whether a team is successful or not, and they should be taking into consideration when working in teams and in everyday life.

Reference:

Bishop, J., Cartee, C., & Kravits, S. (2007). Keys to college studying:becoming an active thinker [2nd ed.]. Retrieved fromhttps://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx

Best Practices for Teaching Diverse Learners

The classrooms of today are extremely diverse. There are many teachers who do not take into consideration the diversity of the students they teach. There are many types of diverse learning groups, such as gender, cultural and linguistic. Students all come from different backgrounds, have different interests and have different learning structures that they are accustomed to. It is important to use the best methods of teaching a diverse student population as possible in order to be an effective teacher.

In order to effectively teach students of different genders it is important to encourage equal participation in all classes. If one gender is called on more often than anther there may be confidence issues. It is also beneficial to make sure presentations are done by both sexes in all different subjects, and to not expect certain genders to focus on certain subjects. When planning lesson plans it is valuable to present men and women in roles that are not stereotypical; this will help enforce the idea that gender is not a restriction. It is also a good practice to encourage males and females to pursue careers in non stereotypical roles; this will help students use their talents and skills in areas they are interested in. All of these methods are beneficial ways to help break down fears and stereotypes associated with gender. When these walls are broken down students will be more capable to learn and achieve.

It is important to take into account the diversity of cultures in a classroom in order to be the best teacher you can possibly be. When in a classroom it is very helpful to create a friendly environment in the classroom and encourage all students to participate. If there is a friendly environment where everyone is respected for their differences instead of feared or ridiculed real learning can be achieved. If the classroom environment is a friendly environment than students will be more excited to learn; they will also be less shy and afraid to contribute their own ideas to the class. In the case of English Language Learners and students who are not familiar with American culture it is important to use many concrete examples such as pictures to help teach the lessons. It is also beneficial to assign learning partners to help assist the learning process in culturally diverse classrooms.

Encouraging all students to participate can be applied to both types of learner identified. Interaction is the best method of learning. When a student participates in the classroom they are not only hearing or seeing the lesson be explained; they are interacting and learning the lesson through their own involvement. This has a much stronger impact on a child and leaves a much longer lasting effect on the child. I feel this single strategy can be effective for all learners because interaction is the best method of learning, and when a student is encouraged to participate they will have more confidence in themselves. I think confidence will help a student be capable of learning.

All of these ideas are important when teaching in a diverse classroom environment, and should be taken advantage of when trying to become the best teacher you can possibly be.