Concluding Reflections

Diversity:

Diversity is one of the four core areas that is extremely important in education.  As we all know teachers should embrace diversity.  If teachers are able to embrace diversity they can create lessons where all of the students are reached in any possible way.  I strongly believe that once the teacher accepts diversity, students can be encouraged to accept diversity as well.  We live in a world where diversity rules us, especially in our culture.  Puerto Rico is not only home to Puertoricans, but also to a variety of cultures.  Following this statement I consider that teachers should stimuli their students to perform in a multicultural world.   I believe diversity unites the differences and creates equality among us.  Diversity is very important because it leads the students to acceptance and equal treatment among the school's community.  I consider that the "No child left behind" law reinforces diversity because it avoids discrimination on race, color or disabilities; all of the students have equal opportunities.  As a teacher candidate, I find that having knowledge that embraces diversity it enables the students to work in groups, develop new ideas and understand the world we live in. If the students are taught adopting diversity it will not matter where they stand, they will have the knowledge to integrate as individuals in multicultural setting.  I consider that is the teachers’ job to encourage students to embrace diversity in order to lead a better life and to accept the different cultures among us. 

Creativity:

          I believe that one of the most important qualities a teacher needs is to be creative.  Not only to create activities and curriculum ideas, but also, to construct a new environment for learning.  Nowadays, we have to follow the constructivist approach in which the students use their prior knowledge to construct a new one.  I believe that in a constructivist class you can embrace creativity to accomplish your goals.   In general terms, creativity is not only seen from a social perspective, but also has to do with your expectations and abilities to create many things.  I consider that by encouraging our student to be creative we are automatically creating a bond with critical thinking.  Taking our students to the 4^th level of depth of knowledge means to create a bridge between academics and authentic situations. 

Social Transformation:

                  As it is exposed in the core areas document, social transformation involves the development of integral individuals.  In my perspective this means to demonstrate understanding of ethical, civic and professional values.  I believe that it is our position to contribute for a better society development.  Nowadays teachers have to teach in a social context.  I believe that in order to incorporate social transformation, teachers should be the first ones to have good values because we have to transmit moral values to our students.  It is important that we teachers transmit this value not only in an academic context but also with relevance to authentic situations.  We have to create a chain between schools, the students and the family in where social transformations can evolve.   

Leadership:

               

                     Leadership is a core area that every English teacher should promote.  Teachers can transmit leadership through developing several activities where the students become the hostess.    Following this idea I consider that in the elementary level we can promote leadership by making the students participate in different roles of the class.  During my practice teaching experience my students have had embrace leadership by becoming the leader of the day.  The student who is assigned this role has to demonstrate leader qualities such as good behavior, academic performance and moral values.   In other words the captain of the day sets the example for the rest of the students.  There are plenty of other activities that we can make with our little ones to develop leadership among them.