PSU Capstone Project With Grant Community School
In Marion County
"The function of education is to teach one to think
intensively and to think critically. Intelligence
plus character - that is the goal of true education."
Martin Luther King Jr.
intensively and to think critically. Intelligence
plus character - that is the goal of true education."
Martin Luther King Jr.
Lou Lagunas(They/Them/She)
My Identities:
Mexican-Indigenous, Lower-class,
Able-Bodied, Non-binary Woman
My Identities:
Mexican-Indigenous, Lower-class,
Able-Bodied, Non-binary Woman
Through my passion in education,
my career goals of becoming a teacher, and my
connection with the education system; I have
partnered with Grant Community School to
gain experience in the educational field in order to
develop my own teaching methods to best serve the
needs of my future students.
History of grant community school
Established in Salem in 1955
"Today's Grant Community School building has been in place since 1955. The site, however, has been home to Salem schools since 1866. In March 1908, the school's name was changed to what it continues to be known as today: Grant. The current Grant School was completed in early 1955 and was dedicated on April 15. May Smith was the new building's first principal." https://grant.salkeiz.k12.or.us
My Goals As An Instructional Assistant
- Develop relationships with students
- Implement new and diverse learning strategies for marginalized students
- Create a creative and autonomous learning environment rich of agency
- Introduce the concept of learning journey to students
My mission statement as a future educator
Ever since I knew that I wanted to become a teacher and be involved in the educational field, I knew that I wanted to take a different approach to education in order to best serve my future students. As of now, I am an Instructional Assistant at Grant Community School and most of my time is spent working with second grade students who I have discovered are more than willing to welcome new methods of learning and development. In general the school system has failed a lot of youth in their education when it comes to genuinely learning what one is interested in. There is no room for freedom in the K-12 school setting and students only get to have autonomy until they reach college or university. Students deserve a platform in their education where they can learn with no censorship and be free to ask as many questions as they like. They should not have to wait until college to take courses that interest them.
the four goals in education
- Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice
- Ethics, Agency, and Community
- Communication
- Inquiry and Critical Thinking
These four goals in education are crucial to set up a healthy well-rounded atmosphere for students to have access to an equitable education that sets them up for success.
Diversity, Equity, and social justice
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in the classroom setting are important assets to implement as a teacher. Teachers have the responsibility to teach and showcase what these terms mean to create a safe and harmonious environment in the classroom. Through my observation at Grant Community School I noticed that students face a milieu of obstacles that are thrown their way due to their environment, culture, race, class, and gender. Intersectionality is a pivotal factor that teachers, administrators, the state and government have to keep in mind to create and build resources that will support these students that face many challenges due to these attributes that are far from their control. As a teacher one should always view education and their teaching format with an open mind that focuses on inclusion for every one of their students.
Ways to promote Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education:
- Reduce Race and Gender Barriers to Learning
- Diversify Curriculum
- Accommodate Learning Styles and Disabilities
- Be Dynamic with Classroom Space
Ethics, agency, and community
Ethics, Agency, and Communication are crucial components for students to have in their everyday lives especially in the academic setting. Historically speaking, students have been conditioned to believe that they do not have control of their learning throughout their academic career in the K-12 school setting. The way the traditional teaching style and methods are structured have led to strip away students of their opinions in the classroom. This can lead to faulty school habits and drive them astray from their academic goals. As a teacher, one needs to develop and advice for more autonomous curriculum that allows students the chance to truly input their thoughts on their learning. When teachers advocate for student rights one is being ethical by standing up for what we believe in. As educators we have the choice to take the easy or hard way out. As a teacher one has to be ethical in order to truly set a good example for our students, especially those that stem from marginalized backgrounds. We need to be a voice of reason for them to have a healthy community in their education. Those of us in the academic setting who have the power to do so, need to consider our ethical values and start questioning the system to enact positive impactful change for our students.
Ways to promote Ethics, Agency, and Community in Education:
- Committing to ones learning in order to continue developing practice
- Implement the policies, rules, and regulations of the administration, but work to correct those that are inconsistent with sound principles
- Give students the opportunity to ask questions and be curious
- Let students have a voice to build community
Communication
Communication is all around us and very crucial for our learning and development. It comes to no surprise that in the classroom setting, communication is heavily emphasized. It allows us to garner healthy relationships with one another as well as to bring awareness to how communication affects our learning in a positive way. Being an Instructional Assistant at Grant Community School has taught me the significance of communicating with students in the classroom and the effects it has on their social and academic lives. Communication in education is an umbrella term for how it affects the student's learning how teachers use communication through their forms of teaching, as well as student agency, autonomy, and choice, Communication is a form of power that is applied universally to everyone in different forms due to the significance it has on our lives. It is crucial to set healthy examples of communication for one to have a healthy well-rounded life.
Ways to promote Communication in Education:
- Repeat your message in different ways/Check for understanding
- Create a learning environment that fosters critical thinking
- Use material that showcases communication skills
- Promote teamwork through group assignments
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking skills is a person's own analysis of a matter in order to form an opinion. We as humans all have differing opinions on topics and this is due to us all being able to use our critical thinking skills that we are taught at a young age such as in elementary school. Thinking profoundly and outside the box is essential to our everyday lives because it is what helps us think rationally and to understand the logical connections between concepts. Problem solving is one of the first ways students are taught how to think critically because it involves creativity, and it encourages students to apply their autonomy to solve problems in a different way.
Ways to promote Critical Thinking in Education:
- Ask questions
- Incorporate different points of views
- Encourage Creativity
- Inquiry-Based Learning
~Resources for setting new and diverse instructional methods for students in the K-12 setting~
Teaching is an important career that is often overlooked and not given the credit it deserves. Teachers are individuals that put in effort to grant students a fair and rich education, where they are able to grow academically and personally. As we continue to advance, it is important for teachers to remember that each and every student has a unique learning style that we have to cater to. By keeping in mind the four goals of education I mentioned above, and continuously learning by seeking resources like the video down below, teachers will create a safe and learning environment for students to be successful in their academic and personal lives.
Differentiating Instruction: It's Not As Hard As You Think