Running Head: REFLECTION PAPER 1
Reflection Paper
Andrew Smith
SOC 312
Instructor Baez
September 24, 2014
Reflection Paper 2
Reflection Paper
My future professional goal is to become an elementary school teacher, I want to teach
the fifth or sixth grade, whichever is the last grade in the district where I end up teaching. In
some places, K-5 is elementary, and 6-8 in middle school, while in others its K-6 and 7-8. In
my district, it is K-6 and 7-8. Understanding the nature of families and children in relation to
society is important for my professional goal because I will not only be dealing with the students,
but their parents as well. Each of my students could come from a radically different family
structure, some will be raised in a single-parent household, either with the mom or dad, some
could have a blended family with a step-parent and step-siblings, some may be raised by the
extended family, like a grandma or aunt, and others may have parents that do not speak English.
Because each of my students could possibly come from a different background, it is important to
understand how the students and their family relate to society.
Different families have different cultures, values, attitudes, and expectations for their
children. For instance, with Chinese students, they may face a lot of pressure if their parents are
traditionalists, where they view [g]ood performance and good marks mean theyve done their
duty to their parents and avoided bringing shame on themselves, their communities, and their
families. Less desirable marks suggest less diligent care for parents and the family, and this is
believed to reflect badly on student, parents, community, and country, (Educational norms and
expectations, n.d.). However, here in the US, we are more of an individualist country, and only
see or grades and work as reflections of ourselves. For a teacher, it is their job to prepare their
students for the next grade or life outside of school, basically preparing them to be a contributing
member of society. When we understand how our students families in relation to society, we
can prepare them better.
Reflection Paper 3
My knowledge of the theories of socialization will impact my work as a teacher a number
of different ways. It will help me to design effective instruction; behaviorism, classical
conditioning, and operant conditioning can all be used to inform on instruction. The theories of
socialization will also help me to develop an appropriate and effective educational setting in my
classroom, which will help my students develop into contributing members of society because it
will teach the goals of socialization. These goals include developing self-regulation skills,
sense of self, achievement, self-efficacy, and social roles such as gender roles, (Bojczyk,
Shriner, & Shriner, 2012, P. 24, Par. 2). One more way the theories of socialization will impact
my work is by understanding how the process of socialization occurs, the importance of
socialization, and methods of how to encourage and enhance this process.
My understanding of child development will assist me as a teacher by helping to perceive
proper development or to see if there is a possible developmental delay. For instance, using
Eriksons theory of psychosocial development, we can see that there are multiple stages that a
child will pass through, and depending on how these stages progress will determine if there will
be a delay. Erikson assumes that a crises occurs at each stage of development. For Erikson,
these crises are of a psychosocial in nature because they involve psychological needs of the
individual (i.e. psycho) conflicting with the needs of society (i.e. social), (McLeod, 2008, Par.
10). Another way my understanding will help me in the class is by helping me to understand
where my students are, developmentally, so that I hold proper expectations for them. Giving
work that is too easy or too hard can cause negative reactions, like giving up or not caring, but if
I know what they can do, and what they cannot, I can scaffold the instruction so that they can
learn and grow.
Reflection Paper 4
References
Bojczyk, K. E., Shriner, B. M., & Shriner, M. (2012). Supporting childrens socialization:
A developmental approach. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Educational norms and expectations. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2014, from
http://www.greenriver.edu/Documents/academic-programs/teaching-and-learning-
center/Teaching-international-students/china-educational-norms-and-expectations.pdf
McLeod, S. (2008). Erik Erikson. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
