Running head: STATEMENT OF INFORMED BELIEFS

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Alejandra Silva
College of Southern Idaho
Evin Fox
EDUC 204: Families, Communities, and Culture
Spring 2016

Authors Note
This paper was prepared for Families, Communities, and Cultures class, taught by Professor Fox.

Statement of Informed Beliefs

Introduction
Education has played is an important role to help the world succeed. Education is
working on solving problems that we face today. The knowledge gained through education
enables individuals potential. Education helps children acquire new skills, or improve and
broaden skills they already possess. My job as in educator is to make sure that each child reaches
his or her full potential. Each child should feel unique and accepted. Most important, that he or

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she knows that they have something to contribute to society. There are some aspects that enable
childrens education such as students ability to learn, students social ecology theory, cultural
diversity instruction, and curriculum for all learners.
Students Ability to Learn
Each child has the ability to learn, especially subjects that are of interest. A child
demonstrates they are learning when they are engaged. They are able to retain and apply the
knowledge or skills they have learned throughout their life. The world is always changing, so
through socialization the child development is also changing. Socialization is the process by
which individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, and character traits that enable them to
participate as effective members of groups and society (Berns, 2016, p. 6). In order, to ensure
proper child development, they are supported by their families, schools, and communities.
To ensure that the student is able to learn the teacher needs be an intentional teacher, and
comprehend the importance of developmentally appropriate curriculum. Developmentally
appropriate means a curriculum that involves understanding childrens normal growth patterns
and individual differences (Berns, 2016, p. 157). The environment is set-up to promote the
importance of education and childrens individuality. The teacher should grow as a professional
by taking meaningful professional development courses. An effective teacher commits to being a
lifelong learner. A teacher that shows commitment and passion will ensure that he or she is
grasping the childs attention and curiosity. The teacher will be able to individualize each childs
learning to meet their goals, or to extend their learning. The teacher shows the value of family
through inclusion. Informs the family of school, family, educational, and recreational events,
provides resources that the community offers, and meet and greet families.
The student will be held accountable for his or her learning. Children have the innate
ability to learn. Children have different ways they learn best. Jean Piaget, a psychologist in
cognitive development believed that childrens interactions with their environment is what

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creates the learning (Berns, 2016, p. 471). Children need to be active participants to enable their
brain to work. It is very difficult to sit for long periods of time, and listen to the teacher lecture.
Students will learn best when they are actually doing the work themselves, and creating their
own understanding of what is going on.
Students Social Ecology Theory
Children are responsible for their learning, however their microsystem which include
family, communities, and school also impact their learning and upbringing. The microsystem is
the first basic structure of Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory. The microsystem include
activities and relationships with significant others experienced by a developing person in a
particular small setting (Berns, 2016, p. 21). The family of a child is the first setting that
provides nurturance, affection, and interactions. The primary care-giver which should be the
secure attachment of the child will have the most significant impact. An attachment is an
affectional tie that one person forms to another person, binding them together in space and
enduring over-time (Berns, 2016, p. 58). Forming a secure attachment contributes to developing
positive social behaviors. Appropriate parenting practices are influenced by parental
understanding of developmental appropriateness and behavior management techniques. I believe
one of the most effective and proactive parenting skills is the authoritative style, because it
allows the child to learn from mistakes, but in a rational and issue-orientated manner. They take
into consideration the childs feelings, but they are reasonable and have control over the
situation. In this manner they are able to come to terms with their child. The parents also
encourage back and forth communication, and share their reasoning behind their decisions with
the child (Berns, 2016, p. 68).
The community is another important setting in a childs life, because the facilities
provided are part of their learning. A community is a group of people sharing fellowship and
common interests; a group of people living in the same geographic area who are bound together

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politically and economically (Berns, 2016, p. 56). I believe that a community that focuses on
helping one another builds positive relationships, and a sense of belonging. Providing
recreational activities, community safety, and citizen involvement support a family-friendly
community. An important role that a community has is it gives children different perspectives on
life. They can learn about various social roles.
Another key factor in a childs social ecology is culture. Culture is the learned or,
acquired behavior, including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and traditions, that is
characteristic of the social environment in which an individual grows up (Berns, 2016, p. 26). In
America we are considered a melting pot. A melting pot is concept that society should socialize
diverse groups to blend into a common culture (Berns, 2016, p. 212). As a teacher I must value
and respect all cultures that come into my classroom. It is important to make sure that the child
and family feel comfortable being in the classroom to help with establishing a teacher-family
relationship. Also, as the teacher I set the example on how we will treat each other in the
classroom.
Cultural Diversity Instruction
Culture can be a powerful role in a childs life or it may not. Either way a child that
understands their culture has a sense of belonging. This helps the child develop their selfconcept. Self-concept is an individuals perception of his or her identity as distinct from others
(Berns, 2016, p. 41). Self-concept helps give a child an understanding of who they are. Since the
child has this concept he or she can cope with relating to other people.
As the teacher it is my job to research a childs culture. I can do this by asking the family
appropriate questions, or researching. Understanding a childs culture will help me relate to my
student. Thus, this will enhance the teacher-student relationship, which is important to help the
child feel comfortable in the class. The developed knowledge of a culture will help me

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understand certain behaviors. I will be able to approach or accept these behaviors. I will develop
appropriate techniques to help integrate diversity in the classroom.
Curriculum for all learners
It is important as the teacher to set up an environment that is developmentally
appropriate. I believe that if the environment is set-up accordingly the child will be intrigued and
become the learner. I will be supervising and following the childs interest. Also, I will embed
different learning styles into the activities, so I do not leave a child excluded from their
education. I would like to have a classroom that has qualities of a learner-directed education. A
learner-directed curriculum is when the learning activities emerge from individual interests
and teacher guidance (Berns, 2016, p. 189). One of my goals to encourage certain socialization
outcomes is by organizing my instructional setting. The three types of goals would be
cooperative, individualized, and competitive. Each type of goal promotes different interactions
amongst the students:
A cooperative goal promotes interpersonal relationships such as sharing,
helping, trust, and acceptance. A competitive goal structure promotes
comparisons and mistrust and for some, achievement motivation. An
individualized goal structure promotes student-teacher interaction and
responsibility for oneself. (Berns, 2016, p. 269)
The goals mentioned are life skills that they can utilize through the rest of their life. I want my
students to feel like important individuals. They all have unique traits that they can share and
offer to other people, including myself. I want to build a community with my classroom.
Also, I want to practice authentic assessment. An authentic assessment is evaluation
based on real performance, rather than a test performance, showing mastery of a task (Berns,
2016, p. 273). Through an authentic assessment I would be covering the objectives and goals
required by the Common Core Standards. I believe that a child performs better when they are not
feeling pressured. This type of assessing ensures me that the student is actually comprehending
and are active learners. Lev Vygotsky theory was that children learn and construct their ideas
through their interactions amongst each other. He believed that careful observations were as valid

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as score on a test (Berns, 2016, p. 295). I agree, a students worth should not be measured by a
score, but overall how they interact with others and work on creating, and developing their ideas.
Conclusion
Education is a life-long dynamic field. I understand the commitment I am making
stepping into my future classroom. I know the accountability that I have, and I will do my best to
make sure that all my students feel safe and important. I want them to be able to walk out of my
classroom knowing that they have been inspired, engaged, or empowered in any way. It is my
job to make sure I follow my statement of beliefs, and remember that every year there will
always be a challenge to over-come, but knowledge to be gained.

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References
Berns, S. (2016). Child, family, school, community: Socialization and support (10th ed).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.