Equality
Through all of my professional development, I've seen this photo more times than I can count. Everyone is created equal. Done. End of it. But then, all of these concepts come into play, money, status, education level, abilities… the list goes on and on. It seems like our world is constantly battling between people wanting equality and people resisting equality. Out of every tiny or large area of the world, I feel like the most logical and needed place for equality is within the classroom. It is hard to convince people they are equal when so many factors prove that people are not equal. Within the four walls of Ms. Smith's classroom, I have one goal everyday: make them feel equal. From activities, strategies, and expectations, I consistently work to create an atmosphere of equality. The Giving Tree did not have to convince the little boy he was great, but if she/he would have had more children, I believe she/he would have done so. Take a look at my attempts to create equality through classroom culture, differentiation and enrichment, and expectations.