My First Class: EDU 501

Last night I went to my first class of the MAT program. I was so excited. It has been a long time waiting. I started this journey to become a classroom teacher was over 10 years ago.

My Tuesday evening class is called Socio-Political and Social Justice (EDU 501) from 6:30-9:15pm. We only have 7 meetings spread out this term on campus. But we will do a lot of classroom and homework online through the Moodle online classes.

Here is a summary of what this class is entails (written by Courtney Vanderstek, my professor of this class): An introduction to the current social, political and ethical issues surrounding public education. License candidates will become familiar with the challenges facing students, families and communities in helping all students meet performance expectations. This course will meet the Anti-Discrimination content requirement.

If you don't understand that short summary, here is a longer summary by Professor Vanderstek: This course is designed to give aspiring MAT candidates a realistic introduction into the life and work responsibilities of a teacher. In addition, through this course, candidates will begin the profession-long pursuit of the understanding of how teaching shapes the lives of children and families. Because of the profound influence teaching and learning plays in the development of each student, teachers must develop a framework for ethical decision-making that promotes positive conditions where social justice reaches all children and families. Development of a personal and professional social justice framework in the context of schooling is a a necessary foundational expectation leading to a successful career as a professional educator.

The required textbook for this course is The Children in Room E4 by Susan Eaton. This will be an interesting book to read. This book tells a story about a real classroom and its students and how the teacher educated them. There is more than that in what I tried to summarized in one sentence.

Before the class started, I recognized at least six people from orientation last week. Courtney (she wants us to call her that) used some techniques on us that real teacher uses in the classroom. For example, we stood in a circle outdoors saying our name and one interesting fact about ourselves as Courtney lead it all. At the end of this process, a few brave souls volunteered to repeat back to everyone's names. She had ice breaker games which gave us time to socialize with each other. When we know each other, we can start to care about each other and we will create a caring and learning environment. Tonight, there is 24 of us (a couple people couldn't make it tonight). There is one other lady in the group who speaks English as a second language like me. And there is a young woman who is deaf. I enjoy watching her interpreters signing with her even though I don't understand ASL. Actually, the only thing I know is the ABCs and maybe a couple signs.

Last night, we also formed our learning teams for group work and accountability. Many of my classmates are working adults with busy lives so occasionally some of us may not be able to make it to class, so our learning teams will help provide class notes and up-to-date information. My learning team is called A.L.T.S. In my team, there is Tara who I kind of know from WOU; there is Aaron who actually spent his youth in SE Portland; and there is Leslie who is a mother of older children. Two of us are elementary focus while the other two is secondary focus.

I am looking forward to getting to know my team mates as well as my other classmates.

This Thursday, I have my first field experience meeting with Lynne, my advisor and my elementary cohort. We will learn what is expected in the field experience and what we are to learn this term in our classroom placements. After that, I have my development class with Lynne at 6:30 pm.