Embracing the Differences in the Classroom

I started reading the book Reading, Writing and Rising Up, and even in the first few chapters alone I feel in some sense more aware and prepared for the life of being a teacher. Even though actually becoming a teacher is many, many years away I still feel as though this book pus an excellent prospective on classroom environment.

The book focuses on the student population and the assignments used by a particular English teacher to get them to open up and be engaged in their education. Based on the school environment its understandable that some students don't particularly take well to school and the subject. And as teachers I think its important to understand that no two students are the same. By forming connections with her students through the assignments this particular English teacher was able to get through to her students and to impact their education. 

One assignment utilized was a Where I'm From poem. I have experience with this poem because I had to write one a few years ago for an English class and it was quite enjoyable to construct a complex way to describe my life and all of its influences. I think sure an assignment can really positively impact a classroom environment. Such an assignment allows students to understand where not only they came from but also where their classmates came from. 

Overall I think in a classroom catering assignments to students is not a bad thing and it should be done because they can make the difference in the environment of the classroom for the entire year together.  

I'm now excited to continue further into this book because the experiences of this on teacher alone inspires new ideas within me as well as inspires me to keep pursuing teaching because any teacher can make an impact.