Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement

Impacts on Student Learning and Academic Achievement Education is the most important part of life to uphold intelligence and human can increase knowledge through which an individual move the world for good and sinful on the basis of his wishes. Education, in fact, is one of the major life processes of human beings, as there are other vital processes to live likewise education, are also a vital process in every aspect of human life. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013) There are many factors which effects on students learning and academic achievement including student performance, teacher role, family support, school environment, peer relationship and the most important factor is the socioeconomic status of parents. According to Mehmood and Saifi (2011), socioeconomic status is a combined measure of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position relative to others, based on income, education, and occupation.† The home environment is influenced by the factors such as parent’s education, occupation, income, and facilities provided to their children. All these factors together can be defined by a single term the â€Å"socio-economic status† (SES) of parents. Thus we can say that the socioeconomic status of parents affects the performance, learning and academic achievement of students. I have selected this topic because of the multiple reasons; the reason is that being a student I have also face many hurdles during my studies till now so those movements force me to choose this topic. Like me, most of the students in our society also face financial problems. So due to low socioeconomic status students cannot compete and unable to achieve their goal. In addition, they become dependent on parents and parents make decisions for them. Moreover many students end up with psychological problems like stress and depression due to the financial crisis and they can’t achieve their ultimate goal. It is generally said that the performance of students in academic depends on the socioeconomic status of their parents. Higher the socioeconomic status the better exposure to learning facilities. If parents are well educated and economically stable they afford their children to get a better education and they always support their children what they want to do. As in literature, it is also stated that well-educated parents ensure their children’s future earning by providing them auspicious learning environment but the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status family even they can’t afford their basic needs. Such students do not have access to learning facilities. (Ahmer. F Anwer. E, 2013). Research shows that students from lower socioeconomic background faced a higher risk of low achievement as compared to students from a higher socioeconomic background. Home environment and parents education are directly effect on students learning. (Nasreen. A, 2013). So the environment at home is the basic learning unit and effects a child interest and ambitions for the future. If we look upon on our society most people are more interested in rich people and they show more respect towards them and their children. So research shows that lower Socioeconomic status students have lower and lower academic achievement as compared with students of higher Socio-economic status. When a teacher makes a decision about students based on their class and Socio-economic status, they are taking the first step in checking students from having an equal opportunity for academic achievement. Ghazi et al. (2013). Due to teachers stigma mostly students suffered from their studies and they cannot show good performance in education. So its educators responsibility to overcome this stigma of poverty and help those students to boost up their hidden talent. Being a citizen of a developing country almost more than half of the total population is living in rural areas and they mostly belong to the low socioeconomic family. As our country is on the list of poor countries where the majority of the population belongs to low socioeconomic status. So it’s very difficult for parents to fulfil all the needs of their children. Poverty is the main problem which has a direct effect on students learning especially when it occurs early in the child’s life. When it remains throughout their life it influences child development in different ways, like the physical and mental health of the child as well as it influences on parents health also. It also influences child affective interactions. According to Karwowski (2012), Parents’ social position influences many aspects of their childrens school careers. The higher social position of parents of children with disabilities may make it easier for them to meet their costly needs, as well as to act as they support their children in contacts with educational institutions and to help them in their studies. I have also experienced this kind of situation in my school life. When I completed my secondary education with good grades, I got admission in Aga Khan higher secondary school but unfortunately, at that time, my father lost his job. At that time I had no any option to get admission even I couldn’t continue my studies and I missed one year and I felt at that time. Even I didn’t talk to my family members and it was a moment of disappointment for me and the family as well. At that time I consulted a counsellor who advised me to continue my studies in another college. After all these situations I realized the importance of socioeconomic status.at that time I became very sad because it was very difficult for me to cope with that situation. Due to the economic crises, I had to leave my previous school which was at the top level in our area. In literature, it is also stated that parents income level is an important factor that affects the academic achievement and performance o f their children. If the parents earn good and adequate than there would be less stress for the parents as well as for their children. They will provide learning resources easily to their children. While parents with low income, they cannot afford easily their children such a learning environment which becomes a barrier in the learning process. (Ahmad. I Khan.N, 2012). In addition, low income of parents also leads to conflicts in families due to lack of access to basic needs of their children. So the students who belong to a low socioeconomic status they cannot get a quality education and they cannot access new technology facilities like the internet to get information and they are unable to acquire new technology. As in a research among the students of a university in Sargodha shows that students who are getting facilities of new technology show high grades and they show better performance as compared to those students who belong to low socioeconomic status. Azher et al,. (2013). Another factor which affects students learning and academic achievement is parents education. Educated parents can easily understand the basic needs and important resources for their children. For the progress of any individual education plays a vital role in their life. According to Ahmad and Khan (2012), parent’s education level play an important role in the academic performance of their children. Because educated parents can easily manage the difficulties in any mode of their children’s education and they know how to encourage to create interest in the academic performance. Educated parents can easily manage their timetable to check and balance their daily activities.in addition, especially mother education is very important for child development which has a big effect on a child’s performance and academic achievement. According to Lacour. M Laura. D (2011). It is stated that mother education has an important effect on children’s score rather than parents income. The mother’s educational level has 20% higher efficiency than the father’s education level on the academic achievement of students. Another negative effect of low socioeconomic status is the cognitive development of children. Most parents use alcohol and other substance like cigarettes to cope up with stress during financial crises as I encountered such a client in my neighbour who always drinks alcohol when he faces any problem. He has two children and both are not good at their studies. Both of them always missed their classes and they even cannot solve simple mathematics problems. According to Brogan (2009). The families among low socioeconomic status there are more incidents of substance abuse, which effects on their child’s cognitive development. Especially if any mothers use alcohol during pregnancy their children are more prone to attention problems and the children with premature birth develop neurological problems like mental retardation. They also cause lessened brain development. All these problems lead to learning and performance disabilities which effects on academic achievement of children. Being a nursing student it’s our responsibility to teach about the importance of education for the better development of child and family. Another important factor is parent’s income which influences a student’s performance, therefore, it is recommended that the government should take some serious initiatives to provide jobs to people and raise the socioeconomic status of people. The government should provide financial support and should give scholarship especially to those who cannot afford the expenses of education. Mass media also play an important role in the awareness among people regarding the poor literacy condition in our country on account of socioeconomic problems.in addition, we can counsel students to do extra efforts along with their studies so that they don’t have to compromise with their studies. In conclusion, I want to say that keeping the view of the above discussion there is a direct relation between socioeconomic status and students learning and academic achievement. Especially the parents income and education level which has a great impact on children academic achievement. Therefore it’s very important to raise the socioeconomic status of people so they can easily afford their children education expenses. For this, we can have interventions individually and on government level like educating parents, mass media awareness, and scholarship etc. As it is stated in a study which is conducted in International Islamic University Islamabad that socioeconomic status has a significant impact on students learning. Akhter (2012).

Personal Philosphy Essay

It is important for teachers to develop their own educational philosophy. It is important because this philosophy defines the teacher and what they stand for. The philosophy describes the teacher’s attitude, their teaching styles, and how they feel about their students being successful. â€Å"A teacher’s personal philosophy of education is a critical element in his or her approach to guiding children along the path of enlightenment. † (Examples, 2013) Writing philosophies at the beginning of your teaching career is very helpful. Once you begin teaching for some time you notice that those initial philosophies change. Writing teaching philosophies are important to teachers because it identifies their thoughts, beliefs, and what they represent in the classroom. Personal Philosophies After thinking and realizing what I stand for in the classroom, I came up with these three philosophies that identify me. I believe that every student is a special education class can learn. Regardless of the child and their disability I believe that every child in a classroom is able to learn. It does not matter how small the progress is just as long as there is progress. I believe that inclusion has both positive and negative aspects on teachers and students. Inclusion allows students to be mainstreamed with peers their age. This gives them a chance to be around students their age as well as learn new things. Sometimes inclusion causes special services student to act out. This happens because they are not familiar with the information and they act out so they will not be embarrassed because their lack of knowledge. Finally, I believe that one-on-one time with special education students is valuable. Working with students individually helps them a lot. The teacher gets a chance to see exactly where they need help and are able to answer all their questions. Philosophies That Relate To Me â€Å"I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. † (Sample, 2013) After reading this philosophy I realized how much this should be included in one of my philosophies. I believe that each student is different. I also believe that each student should be handled differently and appropriately in order for them to show growth. Not only should a teach help the student grow educationally but they should assist them in growing socially, physically, and emotionally. It is a teacher’s job to produce growth in their students. That is why they should cover all aspects available in order to prepare their students for the real world. This philosophy covers everything I believe in as a teacher. In order for a student to learn they have to be comfortable and feel secure with their surroundings. In order for a student to open up to a teacher and peers they have to be comfortable with their surroundings. That is why it is important for teachers to provide a relaxed, secure classroom for the students. A classroom that welcomes questions, discussions, and learning. In the beginning the teacher should let the class know that questions are always welcome and that no one is allowed to laugh. Once a student realizes they have a teacher who always want to hear their questions and cares about them and how they learn, the student will feel secure and open to learn. This philosophy can be adopted as one of my own because I am aligned and stand for everything it says. â€Å"I believe the children are our future. † (Sample, 2013) Children are our future. In order for us to have a bright future, we have to prepare our youth the lead the country in an outstanding way. As a special service teacher I think it is important to prepare our students for the real word. Not only do we prepare them intellectually, we prepare them mentally, physically, and emotionally. As a teacher I think in order to prepare students to be our future we have to teach them everything they need to in order to function in society. In order for children to be our future we have to help them be successful by teaching them the necessities. In special education classes independent living skills can be taught. In order for our children to be our future, these things have to be taught. In order to be our future we have to teach them everything that is beneficial for our children to function properly in and outside of the classroom. â€Å"I believe that children learn best from expert teachers who know what they are talking about. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) I believe that a certified teacher should be in charge of a classroom. Although there is teacher’s assistance in classrooms to help I do not believe that they should lead discussions. I think that our children should be influenced by a certified teacher. Teachers go through lots of training and take classes that teacher’s assistants do not. Although they are trained to handle behavior, they are nor trained nor certified to teach. Students should be taught by someone who knows how and what to teach. I believe that students learn from expert teachers. An expert teacher is someone who has a degree and has met all state requirements to be certified. And that is who should teach our children, an expert teacher. â€Å"I believe that an effective teacher helps leaner increase their awareness of significant social and political issues so that they can have an impact on these situation. † (Educational Philosophies, 2013) This philosophy has some points that I agree with. I do agree that teachers should keep students aware of the political and social issues that are going on. That is important so that students are aware of the current events. I think that this philosophy is important. It is important for student to know how to handle certain situations that deals with the economy and government. When students enter the real world they should have some knowledge of the government and how it works. They should be familiar with what goes on so that they are able to handle certain situations when they are older. Voting is one of these things they should be familiar with and the procedures in order to be registered to vote. This philosophy is one that I will adopt or add to one I already have. Conclusion Having a personal philosophy is very important. As a special education teacher I think it is important to have more than one. Each year I teach I either amend my philosophies each year or add a new one. The more I teach the more things I begin to believe in. A teacher and their philosophies are important because the students, parents, and community are aware of what to expect from you as an educator.

The Amish Community: the Effects of Subsistence on Aspects

The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Tristin Bovee ANT 101 Ilda Jimenez y West October 29, 2012 The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Any person who observes an Amish community may catch a glimpse of a lifestyle that looks as if it adheres to no modicum of logic. Why would a whole group of people choose to live without the technology that makes life so much easier? The answer is simple and uncomplicated; cultural preservation.The Amish are culturally aware of themselves, and as such have put forth the effort to sustain their traditions and way of life for hundreds of years (Kraybill, 2001). The further technology advances in the world outside of the Amish community, the broader the Amish lifestyle becomes from the modern American culture amongst which they live. However, if the Amish belief system is viewed from an anthropological perspective, their values and reasoning is much more understandable to modern thinkers . There are many different sects of the Amish belief system but for the sake of simplicity, this paper will concentrate on the Old Order Amish.The Amish faith sprung out of traditional Protestantism in the sixteenth century. Then referred to as Anabaptists, the Amish believed that baptism should not occur in children or infants, but only in adults that can make the decision for themselves (Kraybill, 2001). They also called for a separation between church and state, and a return to literal interpretation of the bible. Suffering extreme persecution for their beliefs, the Amish fled to northern Europe to escape harsh treatment from authorities and religious leaders alike (Fischetti, 1997).While living in these remote regions, the Amish grew dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture has been the primary mode of Amish life ever since. Many Amish beliefs today are stemmed from their subsistence strategy of emerging agriculture. Body The most widely known belief of the Ami sh community involves the refusal to use electricity or modern technology, such as television, in their homes. The Amish belief system is centered around family and community values and as such, they hold a strong conviction that modern technology shatters those relationships (Fischetti, 1997).The use of electricity opens the doors for mass media influence which holds the possibility of fracturing Amish traditional values. The very values that the Amish hold are a result of their emerging agricultural subsistence. When livelihood depends on bringing in crops and dairying, community and family are the primary modes of labor, and cooperation is of the utmost importance in order to maintain their way of life. Some analysts argue that the individualism seen in modern cultures is caused primarily by industrialization (Kraybill, 2001).By avoiding modern technology and said industrialization, the Amish believe they are maintaining their closely knit communities. From the etic perspective, this may seem to limit the quality of life that the Amish live, especially their youth, but from an emic perspective, this is the lifestyle that they know works for them and does not challenge what they believe. Amish adults are only looking out for the wellbeing of their children on a spiritual level. Like band societies, the Amish do not believe in accumulating wealth; they believe in having what one needs to survive.Beyond enduring, what is important to them is helping each other, which is an aspect in most cultures that grow or forage for their own food (Marlow, 1996). Amish and band societies have much in common, such as their reciprocal economic system of general reciprocity. A reciprocal economic system is a variety of trade between family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). General reciprocity is an exchange without an instant return or a determined value of the trade (Nowak & Laird, 2010); this is what the Amish community practices between members.Within the Amish, assistance or supplies are given freely to those who are in need of it; the provider knows that anyone in their society would do the same for them under similar circumstances. Due to their belief in self-sufficiency within their community, the Amish do not believe in government assistance. Coupled with the collective Amish decline of private health care, one may wonder how they pay for medical expenses; their church and community. The Amish church picks up most medical costs, and what it does not cover is picked up by the individual family and community.The Amish lifestyle is based upon the literal interpretation of the Christian bible, as well as a set of unwritten, adaptable guidelines called the Amish Ordnung. The Amish Ordnung provides the Amish community with cultural capital, or awareness of the morals, principles, convictions and responsibilities of Amish life (Kraybill, 2001). It outlines correct behavior, clothing choice and technologies that are deemed acceptable for use without fear o f destroying the family (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). The guidelines that the Amish Ordnung outlines are changeable.This is to better facilitate solutions toward the difficulties of living in contemporary society while maintaining their cultural heritage and beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). While many people living in modern society have faith of some kind, the Amish live their faith every day. Every aspect of their life is centered around their biblical interpretations and beliefs. Family and community are a huge part of the Amish belief system which is evident by the way their kinship systems work and live together. The Amish are a patriarchal society.Men are the breadwinners and thus the head of the household; women ensure the upkeep of the home and the upbringing of the children (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These gender roles begin at a very young age. In some societies, such as pastoralist societies, this division of labor via gender creates an environment of ine quality in favor of male family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is not the case in an Amish household; each family member is respected and valued for the person they are, and also for the work they accomplish.The strong nuclear family and the division of labor being gender-based provide the Amish with a strategy to impress upon their children the importance of their beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). Young members of an Amish community are not required to be baptized into their faith until eighteen years of age (Kraybill, 2001). Eighteen years living within an Amish community results in these kids knowing nothing else and it is often easy for them to make the decision to continue living their experienced lifestyle. However, should anAmish child refuse, they would be shunned. Shunning is the practice within the Amish community of excommunicating members who do not hold to the community beliefs. Most parents would like to keep their children as close as possible, which is ju st another motivation for immersing their children in the Amish world in order to keep them from being shunned. Often, two or three generations of extended families live in neighboring homes and work the same farmland. This is because a large part of who makes up an Amish community is determined by geographic proximity (Kraybill, 2001).Amish grandparents will often retire to a home on the farm referred to as a dowdy house (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These practices demonstrate the provision of a support system through all stages of life. Societies which practice agriculture for subsistence often establish large families to assist with the amount of labor required for farming (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is demonstrated in Amish families, which on average produce six children per nuclear family (Kraybill, 2001). However, agriculture is becoming less common amongst Amish communities as there is little farmland large enough to accommodate them.This has led many Amish families to re cognize the importance of family planning, since little farming requires less farm labor and family assistance with farm chores (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). In addition, many Amish families have turned to selling crafted items to supplement the income lost from the declining amounts of agriculture. In the book, Riddle of Amish Culture, author Donald Kraybill (2001) states that â€Å"the hallmark of Amish society has been a close-knit, highly integrated community where the threads of social life are woven into a single fabric that stretches from cradle to grave† (pg. 19, para. 4).This quote emphasizes the Amish social life centering on family, community and church from birth to death. Social activity in the Amish community can be described in three words; family, community, and church. Amish society is organized into three basic social units. The first unit, the settlement, consists of Amish families living within a common location and typically ranges in size from a dozen families to several thousand. The second unit, the district, is the organizational unit above the family and refers to the church. One church district usually includes twenty-five to thirty-five families within the immediate area.The third unit, affiliation, is the collection of church districts that hold similar religious practices and cooperate with each other (Kraybill, 2001). Amish children are taught in parochial schools, in which the highest level of education achieved is the eighth grade (Kraybill, 2001). The Amish believe that their way of life does not require more than an eighth grade education; most Amish children know how to run a household well before they finish their schooling. Conclusion If it weren’t for their way of life, they would have been acclimated to societal norms long ago.However, the Amish people are capable of seeing the world from an emic and etic perspective, ostensibly at the same time. Because of this awareness, they are able to take the corre ct steps to ensuring the survival of their cultural and spiritual beliefs. REFERENCES: Donnermeyer, J. F. , & Friedrich, L. (2002). Amish society? : An overview reconsidered. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 8(3), 14. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/220297959? accountid=32521 Fischetti, P. R. (1997). The Amish. Washington, United States: Educational Extension Systems. Retrieved from http://search. roquest. com/docview/189310852? accountid=32521 Kraybill, D. B. (2001). Riddle of Amish Culture (Revised Ed. ). Baltimore, MD, USA: John Hopkins Univeristy Press. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford/docDetail. action? docID=10021650&ppg=2 Marlow, E. (1996). Teaching about another culture? : The Old Order Amish. The Social Studies, 87(4), 161. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/274834778? accountid=32521 Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://conte nt. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/ch00

Essay On American History - 714 Words

American History: Our Hope for the Future Broken glass cracks under boot clad feet, as a clean up crews begin their work on the devastating scene of shattered windows, graffiti ridden walls, and charred buildings and bushes. The view wears evidence of chaos as a diamond necklace, adorned for the world to see. The night before, riots raged, with hatred as its driving fuel. Fires blazed, rocks were thrown through windows and doors, fists flew, and barriers were strewn throughout grass lawns, having failed their job to keep a peaceful distance. The subject of all this violence, a young republican who planned to speak just inside of Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley. Scenes like the one at UC Berkeley have become somewhat of a common place in the†¦show more content†¦The result? One of the longest standing, and one of the most respected constitutions the world has seen. Furthermore, this country has experienced, defeated, and thrived through one of the deepest divides any country can e xperience, a civil war. Divided over the emancipation of slaves and states rights, states literally succeeded from the union. It is a part of our history that has been told to us over and over since the third grade. The union and southern confederacy went to war, the south lost, and consequently, slavery was ended. Even so, few truly understand the impact of the union victory. Our country was reunited under one flag and one constitution; we were one union of states. If our country can survive through a civil war, the great divide, can we not survive through the political divides so relevant today? Can we not resolve arguments of inequality and human rights? Even more recently, there was the civil rights movement that, similar to today, what was supposed to be peaceful protests with a civilized goal, became violent. African Americans fighting for their rights as citizens, were shut down by people refusing to see a contrasting side to their own. They resorted to violence, rather than simply listening to another’s point of view. Protesters were blasted with fire hoses, physically and verbally assaulted, and hounded by dogs. They kept their peaceful stance regardless of torment. It was the peaceful that prevailed. WeShow MoreRelatedAmerican History Essays1013 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican History It is important to be proud of who you are and where you have come from. After watching the film American History X, whites are far from proud. We are ashamed to admit that people just like us can act in such a horrible and disillusioned way toward those that are different. As you watch, you see scenes of brutal violence, hear songs of hate and feel the pain of all involved. These acts show the viewers how easily young minds can be influenced to believe anything. 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