Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Arianna Dixon PTL 2020
Arianna Dixon PTL 2020
When you step into my classroom, you become a part of a community; a community made up of
students and teachers alike, built on principles created together. An environment in which
students’ needs are met, where they learn from one another and from other cultures and
communities. At the center of education is community, and I strive to cultivate growth and
exploration for each student in the classroom.
The first step to creating and sustaining a community in the classroom is by establishing norms
together. Beginning day one, the collaborative experience between students and teachers of
creating core values and guidelines is forged. This helps solidify the importance of establishing
classroom culture and working together so that all can reach success. From these norms,
forming relationships amongst the members of the classroom community is key. In Spanish class,
conversation must be at the center of the learning experience, and having solid relationships
helps students gain more confidence when communicating in another language. Moving
forward, to stimulate the community that we create together, I focus on speaking-based,
collaborative activities so that students can work together, and provide one another with
feedback.
Each individual in the classroom community is a valued part of what makes the learning space so
special. Given that fact, all my instruction is taught with the student at the center. Each activity,
reading and assessment is planned with the question in mind, how will this advance students’
learning? To keep the student at the center, I frequently check in with students individually, vary
teaching styles to present students with different learning opportunities, and constantly assess
that all students are having equitable chances for success. With each individual working to better
themselves, and lending a hand to their fellow peer, the class community will thrive.
With its foundation rooted in the classroom, this community goes beyond four walls as I strive to
teach my students how to be part of the global community. Once students begin learning
Spanish, they too will become part of the 572 million people strong Spanish speaking
community. The heart of any language is the community that created it. Much like our
classroom, every community has its own culture. Therefore, incorporating the various cultures
within the Spanish speaking language into every day of learning is imperative to provide students
with a holistic language learning experience. As a member of our classroom community, students
will better understand how to respectfully be part of a group, honor other members, and evolve
and grow together.
I look forward to creating and fostering a community in which my future students can perform to
their fullest potential and explore every day. Being able to share the Spanish language and its
many cultures with young minds excites me with the possibilities of all the communities that
they will engage with and become a part of as they continue on with their lives.