Wow! We have discussed many important issues in the past few days. This information is going to help us tremendously for our future experiences as teachers. I feel as if the counselors' panel was very informative for us. I am glad we got the opportunity to hear what they have to say about the issues they deal with. It was great to hear perspectives from the different grade levels as well.
When we discussed Paras, it made me realize how important they really are! I feel like we do not give them enough credit for what they do. Many teachers I have talked to say that they do not know where they would be without their Paras in the classroom. It is important to have a positive relationship with them so everything goes smoothly within the classroom. Communication is a big part of this. If we have Paras in our future classroom, they deserve to be treated with respect no matter what. They are doing a wonderful thing. I feel like it takes a special person to be a Para, even though you do not need the qualifications to be one. They really change students' lives every single day. Maybe that child needs that one on one attention with an adult. They may not be getting that at home!
When it comes to sexuality, I feel as if this was an informative topic to discuss as well. This is a huge issue with kids all over the world, because they are being exposed to many different things through music, television, facebook, and so on. The list is endless. It would be helpful to let our kids know that there is an important time and place for everything. They need to know how to stay safe as well. Our students should know that sex is not this horrible thing, but more as a gift from God after marriage. It would not hurt to have a basic sex education class even as early as primary grades. These issues will be coming down the road shortly for them, so they should be aware of these issues, but broken down for younger grades.
Foster children need our love and support just like every student does. It is important for us to make sure they are connected within the classroom environment. Make sure they are actively involved with the rest of the class. As teachers, these kids need us! We can change their lives tremendously just by the small things we do for them.
I will utilize the services of the Counselors and Paras. These people are in our schools to help our children! Counselors are willing to help out the students with any problems they may encounter. Do not take Paras for granted. Remember they are human beings as well!
As teachers, are are shaping these childrens lives. Our actions will effect their lives forever.
ED460 Personal and Social Well Being is a course taken by college students in education during their student teaching semester. Topics covered include: poverty, child abuse, bullying, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, counselors' role in school, adolescents and choices, and the use of technology.
I agree with what Jenny said about having sex education in primary school by breaking it down for them. I remember someone asking during class discussion about why we don't just connect sex education with teaching our students about respect. I think that this might be a good starting point for children in the younger grades because it's foundational to the reasons why we encourage the upholding of the goodness of sexuality within marriage. Respect and human dignity are key. Before students can understand why sexuality is good and why it's meant for a certain context, they first need to know that they themselves are good and that other people are good. You only respect and protect what is worth protecting. Sex education in the older grades can build upon this and will be much more effective if it does so.
ReplyDeleteI think you made a great point about teachers not giving paras enough credit They do so much fr us as teachers and it is our job to respect them so the other students respect them. I also agree with your comment that it takes a special person to be a para. Not every person would be able to handle the stress of a day at school.
ReplyDeleteI think what you said about sexuality is just right. Students are being exposed to new things every day and they need to know when it is or is not appropriate to discuss. They also need to be taught that all students are different and have different beliefs about sexuality.
Your final thought on this blog is my favorite. As teachers we are shaping our student's lives and our actions will help or hinder them later in their lives.
I also agree, with the previous comment. Paras are people too! I believe paras have an even tougher job than teachers do. It takes lots of stamina to do what they do EVERY DAY and the same thing doesn't always happen each day.
ReplyDeleteA comment on Laura's comment about sexuality:
Although it would be nice if we could do that in public schools I really only foresee one problem. There are some students who are just going to disagree with you just because you have an opinion and are trying to get them to act a certain way. I encountered teens like this every day when I went to high school. So maybe we should find a way to manipulate their thinking (like behavior manipulation only this time it would be learning manipulation).
I agree with you that the counselor's panel was very informative and that it is important to have a positive relationship with the paras and that they do deserve to be treated with respect. I also agree that students should be educated about sexuality, but I also think that the parents should be the ones to educate their children about the subjext matter or have a decision in whether their children attend the program or not. Another aspect that I agree with is that foster children need our love and support and need to be treated like everyone else.
ReplyDelete