From birth children are natural learners. They have to learn how to drink from a bottle, than upgrade to spoons and eating solid foods to crawling, walking, talking, potty training, riding bikes, writing, spelling, etc. Their environments have a huge influence their abilities to learn. Children have to find comfort in their environments in order for them to really receive a good education. If a child does not feel safe in their learning setting, their ability to learn is tainted. When comfort is established other sources such as outside environmental stresses can take a toll on a child and alter their desire to learn and their redirect their focus. According to the article, Creating an Effective Physical Classroom Environment, it states that “every teacher knows that a safe, clean, comfortable and attractive classroom can stimulate learning and help build a classroom community. (TeacherVision. 2011)” The article addresses the fact that this can be a challenge for a teacher due to limitations they may have including, crowded classrooms, insufficient storage space and the age of the school building. Creating such an environment for students goes beyond the inevitable; many students come from distraught home settings and have been victims of unpredictable circumstances that have made their schools their safe havens, so the classroom environment becomes an extremely vital place for them.
In particular, students that was affected by Hurricane Katrina experienced tragedy, heartache, distress, but somewhere in the mist of all that pain a blessing was revealed. Of course this natural disaster was indescribably disturbing, life changing and harsh in all ways possible. However, there was a blessing in disguise, in the sense that students were able to cease a great opportunity in finding a school that best fits their educational needs (Goodman. 2005). I can understand how this blessing can be overlooked for children because it is devastating for any child to lose their school, their teachers, their friends and to some students their safe haven from there destructive lives at home. It is not easy for students to comprehend the starting over concept; however in the end they can reap many benefits.
The article, Education Child of Katrina, really grasped my attention, because I was curious to know how this disaster effected the children’s education. I like to think of myself as an optimist, always trying to find a blessing in the eye of a storm. Although the children affected by Katrina, had to relocate and had to experience the lost of everything they have ever known, I believe that for many of them starting over was the best thing that could have ever happened to them. Yes it is hard, yes it is challenging, but yet there were blessings. Many of the children were able to start anew and receive a better education, they were able to eventually have a stable home because parents had to step up and take an active role in caring for and tending to their children.
Growing up in NYC and experiencing the tragedy of 9/11 was interesting. I use interesting because I honestly did not know what the World Trade Center was (truly a shame, I know). I did not have any family or friends directly associated with this event; however many of my classmates had family who were victims to the calamity. I was in 10th grade English class at the time the planes struck the towers. After the announcement was made, I saw devastation on my fellow classmates faces. Even though it had little influence over me, it pained me to see how this tragedy affected those surrounded by me. For us students to experience a historical tragedy like that gave us a new level of understanding of history. At least for me, I became more susceptive to paying attention in history class and really tried to develop an understanding of the historical events.
As a future teacher I will try to my best to cater to the needs of my students. I will try to create a safe haven environment considering all possible settings in which my students will be coming from. I will try to create a place of confront so that my students can feel free to be who they are without feeling pressured to be someone they are not. I will consider the events of our community and try to implement a serene atmosphere where my students focus will remain on things of the classroom and their desire to learn will not be succumbed by the events of the world.
References:
Goodman, J.C. (Oct. 2005). Educating children of Katrina. NCPA. Retrieved from http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba534/
TeacherVision. 2011. Creating an effective physical classroom environment. Retrieved from tp://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-management/decorative-arts/6506.html
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