Descriptive Analysis - What Is Important to Understand About Students in Order to Effectively Teach Within the Classroom?

Sierra Koehler

EdFound 214-Durst

March 12, 2015

Descriptive Analysis-

What is important to understand about students in order to effectively teach within the classroom?

Teachers play an important role in the education of children. Many individuals feel like teaching is overrated, easy, or simply a menial task that just any one can do. Teaching is a talent that takes a lot of patience, hard work and dedication. Like all individuals, children are unique in every possible way and they need an option to have a variety of teaching methods in order to attain a complete and proper education. Teachers must take into account the different factors that encompass each child, and understand how to teach the students effectively no matter the circumstances.  Socioeconomic status, culture, family background, ethnicity, race, gender, language, and disabilities are a few common factors that tend to be looked upon from teachers when trying to maintain an effective method of teaching. These characteristics of students must continuously be researched and teachers must always be educated about the effects these characteristics can have on a student, as well as, the teaching style of the teacher.

In many of the examples provided throughout this analysis, I will be commenting on the school district of Janesville, WI, specifically Lincoln Elementary. Lincoln Elementary is a kindergarten through 5th grade school. Last school year, 2013-2014, Lincoln Elementary had a total enrollment of 361 students. The student population during that year consisted of .8% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian or Pacific Islander, 8.0% Black, 17.2% Hispanic, and 71.2% White. Of these students enrolled in Lincoln Elementary, about 14.7% had disabilities, 63.7% were economically disadvantaged, and 13.3% were English Language Learners (WiseDash 1). As you can see the diversity within Lincoln Elementary is great, and teachers must take into consideration each and every one of these factors. As for this analysis, I will only be focusing my research on the students who are labeled with disabilities, low economic status, and English language learners. The research will explain how these specific characteristics of the children influence and effect ones learning, the teachers teaching styles, and the total engagement between the teachers and students.

Students with disabilities are frequently high intelligent children, but because of their label they tend to get ignored, or treated as a second priority. Children with disabilities have some factors that may restrict them from a “normal” learning environment, but with the help of parents, teachers, and other educational staff, these children are able to receive a proper education just like an “average” student. It is important to know a student’s specific needs he/she needs in order to obtain a proper education. As a teacher, you must be knowledgeable about the different types of disabilities there are, as well as the risks that go along with them. “Special education students’ poor outcomes, particularly in terms of academic progress and graduation rates average about 25 percent” (Pardini 8). These students must be put into an educational environment where their specific needs can be met, and teachers can provide them with specifically designed lessons that are geared to help guide them to success in the classroom. For example, the educators might have to lecture less, provide more hands-on activities and group work, print out extra notes, have tiered homework available, possibly give the students extra time on homework and/or tests, and create a consistent routine that the students can easily follow without confusion. “Teaching such children is labor intensive, slow going, repetitive and frequently interrupted by outbursts of uncontrollable and inappropriate words and behavior. Gains are minimal. Even the smallest achievement- one 11 year- olds growing ability to trace his name, address, and phone number, for example- is considered an accomplishment”(Pardini 10). All educators must be trained and prepared to work, teach and engage with these students. Educators should be able to identify students that might need special services and be careful of misidentification. As stated in the article, “Special Education: Promises and Problems” Pardini explains, “A disproportionate number of minority children are in special education programs, particularly African American children who make up 14.8% of the population, but 20.2% of all special  education services” (Pardini 8). Typically, African American children are also labeled with the status of low socioeconomic status, causing these children who are categorized into both categories to have extreme cases that need special identification and individualized learning strategies in order to obtain effective teaching. Inadequate training, unmanageable caseloads, and too much paperwork are a few conditions that limit teachers’ effectiveness, but with more teachers taking classes in special education, and the parents becoming well-versed in their rights we can provide the education these children need as well as, continue to raise awareness of the needs of students with disabilities. “Without qualified teachers and ongoing research on which to base instruction, you’re never going to get good outcomes.’… ‘After all, if you have cancer and go to a plumber for surgery, what kind of outcome can you expect” (Pardini 11)?