Chapter 3

(3.1) Personal and social development can have a major influence on both individual student

learning and the learning environment as a whole. Identify a case from the CSEL guidelines*

that you would like to address in your paper. Then, examine the possible developmental

factors that could be influencing your target student(s) or classroom in the case study. Consider

all dimensions of personal and social development, including cognitive, language, social,

emotional, and moral development. *CSEL guidelines can be found under CSEL Artifact. Cases

are included at the end of the document. Choose the case that best suits your desired grade level.

(3.22) Check out tables 3.1 (p. 75), 3.2 (p. 83) and 3.3 (p. 91) with particular attention to the age

ranges you are interested in teaching. Identify your personal favorite ways that an educator can

promote a child’s sense of self, perspective taking, and moral reasoning skills.

The case study I choose to write about is the one I created for the CSEL. As it molds better with my desire to teach in an inner-city high school, I believe promoting a child's sense of self, perspective taking, and moral reasoning skills are qualities that should not be taken lightly. Since most of my students are apathetic to school, my job as an educator is to help bring forth some of these qualities. I would first need to help my students understand the importance identify their role in society and for others in a positive light. I will tell them that they are not that much different from any other person in the world and their environments do not dictate their future. Everyone has an opportunity to make something of themselves and getting an education is part of that process. Also, obeying or disobeying the rules for the sake of obeying them will not help them "get ahead" in life. However, obeying rules and authority figures, in becoming a better person and for those around them, is what society expects from young people.

This is not a one day process where light bulbs will turn on in their heads. They will most likely scoff at my proposed ideas and think I was crazy to tell them this. Throughout the school year, I will incorporate these qualities in my lesson plans and have creative ways to help my students reach their goals in life. Here are some of my ideas I may or may not use in the classroom:

1. I will bring sparkling cider and classy plastic cups for the class. I will have a mini-fun lesson about the history of toasting and the significance of it. I will be the first to go up in class, pour myself a cup, and state to the class of my hopes, dreams, desires, and wants. I will have each of my kids go up in front of the class to do the same. After everyone has gone up, I will tell my students that they were witnesses to this event and they are now all accountable for each other and their dreams.

2. If I am in Memphis, I will take them to the National Civil Rights Museum. I will have them bring a journal where they will jot down their feelings and thoughts about what the Civil Rights Movement was all about. When we get back, we will share our thoughts in class and discuss if MLK's dream was achieved.

3. I will have guest speakers come in and talk to my class. They will focus on what doing right and selfless service entails. I have some people in mind: Dr. Flemings- University of Tennessee Professor/ Dr. Ben Carson- John Hopkins M.D/ I will show a video of MSG Roy Benavidez- Medal of Honor recipient RIP/ Any MOH recipient/ Matt Damon (his mother is a teacher)