Reflection #2

1. Discussion on the focus of Learning Communities.

The main focus on Learning Communities is to bring different age groups (close in range) in one classroom with multiple teachers. This provides the students with more than one teacher to listen to each day. It gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate ideas and brainstorm together rather than doing it all on your own.

2. Discussion on the benefits of Learning Communities.

As stated above, Learning Communities provide the opportunity for a classroom to have multiple teachers which produce a better education. “Through collaboration, teachers see the type and quality of work that students can produce in different settings with different teachers, a practice that almost always results in a greater appreciation of students’ talents and raised expectations of even the lowest-performing students” (pg.26 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). This state backs up the benefits of Learning Communities described in both question one and question two. When students see teachers working together to form a classroom, this sets an example for teamwork and how I only helps in real world situations. All in all, Learning Communities provide the benefits of decreased teacher isolation, increased commitment to the mission, shared responsibility, more powerful learning, and a higher likelihood of fundamental, systemic change (pg.33 HORD).

3. Discussion on how Learning Communities affect teachers.

Learning Communities show teachers that they are not on their own! They have peers and other teachers that are there and willing to work alongside you. In order for teachers to succeed, they need help and support from other teachers. Learning communities provides the environment for teachers to support each other and set aside the time for teacher-to-teacher collaboration. Learning Communities also provide teachers with the opportunities to share their teaching philosophy and when you find that teacher that has the same philosophy as you, you can work as a team to develop a teaching strategy that will benefit all students. Learning Communities provide a powerful learning environment.

4. Discussion on how Learning Communities affect students.

As I stated in question two, when students see teachers working as a team, it allows them to feel more comfortable working with others. Teachers are only examples for their students and practicing what you preach will only benefit the students. As a student, working with younger or older students allows the opportunity for each student to learn from other students. This allows the time for student-to-student teaching rather than teacher-to-student teaching. Learning Communities form relationships that some students or teachers never knew they would have. These relationships may include working with students of a different cultural background, different gender, or just someone who you've never met before.

5. Discussion on the components for shared vision in Learning Communities.

The components for shared vision in Learning Communities include intention, respect and trust. In order to work as a team, there must be respect given to one another along with the trust that everyone will commit to what they agreed upon. Support throughout co-workers is also extremely important. If a teacher doesn't have the support coming from a co-teacher, they don’t feel like they are doing their best as a teacher. Critical feedback is included in respect and trust. Everyone needs critical feedback in order to advance in their education or achieve certain goals.

6. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

Learning Communities relates to our project because I am teaming up with two other students to provide a project based on facts and Project Based Learning. We are using the collaboration of ideas to form a solid project and working together as a team to succeed in our mission as students learning to become teachers.