Who is the Variable?

Option 2: Throughout chapters 5-6, the book stresses the belief that the teachers should take responsibility for what happens within their classrooms. It is suggests that if we all look in the mirror each time we ask, “Who is the variable?,” we will have taken great strides toward school improvement. Take a few moments to write about your thoughts on this concept. Next, take some time to reflect in writing about how the issues of student, parent, and teacher responsibility all play a significant role in ensuring academic success for each student we teach.

option 2 Response
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
How do I go about being the best teacher of all?”

Looking into the mirror will let me know that I am the variable between being a good teacher or best teacher, having a classroom of learners or classroom of ‘do I have to be here students, or mayhem vs. order. It is necessary for me to constantly and consistently make every effort to improve my performance.

Am I giving the right message if I relay “Do as I say, not as I do” ? If I expect students to be responsible, I also need to be held accountable, and to a higher degree.

How does the involvement of student-teacher-parent fit into the mix of being the best?

Families play a huge role in how well students do in school. It is important that teachers and parents work together. Schools often time don’t think parents are interested, but a lot of it is a wrong insight. Many families don't know how to be involved. Parents are sometimes hesitant to become involved in schools because they don't have extra time or their elementary education was a less than satisfactory experience.

Teachers (and districts) need to have a plan for involving parents in the education of their children. Effective communication is necessary for building school-family partnerships. Communication lays the groundwork for all other forms of family involvement in education. Not surprisingly, research shows that the more parents and teachers share relevant information with each other about a student, the better equipped both will be to help that student achieve.

Parents also benefit from being involved in their child's education by getting ideas from school on how to help and support them, and by learning more about the school's academic programs and how they work. Perhaps more importantly is the fact that parents become more confident about the value of school and how it impacts their child. Parents then develop a greater appreciation for the important role they play in their child's education.
Thus it is the job of the great teacher, as she reaches above and beyond, to see that the school-family involvement/relationship is successful.