Journal Table Two
Mackenzie Grant
Important Societal Factors/Significant
Observations from Field Notes
A) What are the specific important-societal-
factors-edfd-460-461-462 that serve as
resources and challenges impacting the
learning of the learner(s) you are studying in
your clinical setting?
There are a couple societal factors that are
important in serving as resources and challenges
impacting the learning of the learners I am
focusing on in my clinical setting. Racialization in
a predominately white school doesnt seem to be a
challenge for Student A, whom is the only Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander in the school. Even
though she may stand out in this school setting,
she seems to get along with her classmates, and is
doing very well in school.
Push and pull factors of immigration is another
societal factor that I came across from Student C
whose mother immigrated to the United States
from Canada. I could sense some fear in her voice
when she shared this about her mother because of
our new president and what she has heard from the
media. The reason they came to the United States
was for work. Even though this student is doing
well in school, this factor could end up being a
challenge depending on what the government
decides to do in terms of immigration.
The last factor I want to mention is on the
classroom dynamics. Even though my clinical
setting is an after school program, the teachers
there have established dynamics for these kids.
Management in making sure the students behave
and are doing what they are supposed to be doing
is very evident. I have seen this during quiet time
when students arent on task, or are loud and the
teachers add more quiet time which takes away
Course Content
C) How do specific arguments made by Eric Jensen or any
other scholars do used on ANY OF the 6 Poverty
Analyses (located in the D2L Discussion section)
shape your present thinking about working with
impoverished learners?
According to Eric Jensen physical activity will reduce some of
the issues associated with poor nutrition and will build student
health (25). Students will perform better academically if their
bodies are being taken care of. Exercise is essential for
impoverished learners as a way to create a healthier lifestyle,
stronger memory, and cognitive function. Jensen talks about the
importance of learning more about your students and making
connections to their worlds (27). I believe this is of great value
because students will feel that you care about not only their
success educationally, but who they are as a person and what
they are going through personally. Showing that you believe in
your students provides hope, growth in their mind set, and more
effort. Also knowing where your student struggles academically,
as well as back home can allow us as teachers to know where to
start educationally with a student, and to help develop a strong
relationship that provides a strong, positive, caring adult
(Jensen 28) and coping skills.
D) How do you see your Cooperating Teacher addressing
(or missing the opportunity to address) students
development of soft skills (Be specific with concrete
examples of these soft skills Closure to the Poverty
Analysis Discussion) and any specific 21st Century
Framework Skills discussed in the following resources:
P21 Framework Definitions and Descriptions.
The development of soft skills among the students in my
clinical setting are evident in the behavior of the students
towards those in authority. Most of the time the students dont
misbehave and when they do, the teachers are quick to settle the
issue. This allows students to know that they are supposed to be
respectful and appropriate in certain settings and towards those
in charge. The teachers also make sure students are using their
time wisely during quiet time. Students are supposed to work on
homework during this time because the teachers are there to
help them if they dont understand certain material. This allows
 Journal Table Two
Mackenzie Grant
from free time. The after school program is also
set-up where they have a couple different activities
for the students to do. They start by letting the kids
play outside for a while to have that break from
just being in school, and then have snack time
afterwards. They then move into quiet time where
they can do homework or read, which allows them
to settle down, as well as get help with homework.
They then have free time for the rest of the time
until they get picked up. They also have clubs
students can be involved in, such as: garden club
and volleyball. This provides an organized
schedule to keep students engaged.
B) What developmental and/or learning
theorists learned in EDFD 400/401 can be
used to argue why these specific Important
Societal Factors are significant?
Kohler and Gestalt believe that learning takes place
through an act of insight which can reveal the
importance of all three of the societal factors stated
above. If students are aware of the differences they
have among one another (racialization), the problems
that society faces (push and pull factors of
immigration), and why different dynamics in a setting
take place (classroom dynamics), they will understand
how the world works and how to be successful in
work and life. This insight will also help them develop
ways to work through the differences and problems
they may face.
students to learn about time management and the importance of
it.
Some 21st century framework skills that I have noticed in my
clinical setting are creativity and innovation, critical thinking
and problem solving, and communication and collaboration.
During free time, I have seen students come up with creative
designs with Legos. I have also seen students use these tools
that connect together to create cars which shows innovation.
This also shows communication and collaboration between the
students helping each other create these cars and Lego creations.
Critical thinking and problem solving I have seen during quiet
time. There are many times when students are stuck on a
problem, and just by giving them a hint or pointing out
something they may not have noticed, I see them solve the
problem by putting what they already know and then
deciding/figuring out what to do next. These skills are very
important to succeed in work and life.
E) How do you see (or fail to see) how your cooperating
teacher demonstrates any of the concrete strategies
for working with impoverished learners that you
learned from your outside social class scholar.
The after school program at Ridgeway has three teachers that
demonstrate a lot of the concrete strategies for working with
impoverished learners that I learned from my outside social
class scholar. The teachers in the article I found really cared for
their students which I see with the teachers that stay after to help
with the kids at Ridgeway. During quiet time, the teachers sit
down with students struggling to answer a question on their
homework, and dont leave their side until they understand the
material. Also the fact that these teachers take the time out of
their day to stay after and look after these students, shows that
they care. Some of the strategies my outside social class scholar
provided, I havent really seen yet at the after school program.
According to Garza, R.E., and J.E., teachers perceptions of
culture by acknowledging that as a teacher you can learn from
your students just as much as they can learn from you and
parents role is very important. I think that because the teachers
already know these kids pretty well and it is an after school
program, this is why I havent seen these two strategies. I am
sure these teachers acknowledge the importance of parents roles
in these kids lives, and that you can learn a lot from them.
I know that I am learning a lot from these kids by learning about
their personality, how they are doing in school, what they
struggle with educationally, and just by observing them. I find
myself building strong relationships with these kids and am
wanting to learn more about them, as well as help them succeed
in and out of school.
Journal Table Two
Mackenzie Grant

F) List the 2 Human Resources, 2 Academic Journal

Articles, and 2 Curriculum and Instruction resources
you will possibly use for your Annotated Bibliography.

Human Resources: Professor Traver and Abbie Chapin

(classmate)

Academic Journal Articles: Jensen, E. (2013). HOW Poverty

Affects Classroom Engagement. Educational Leadership, 70(8),
24-30.

Garza, R. E., & Garza, J. E. (2010). Successful White Female

Teachers of Mexican American Students of Low Socioeconomic
Status. Journal Of Latinos & Education, 9(3), 189-206.
doi:10.1080/15348431003761174

Curriculum and Instruction Resources: important-societal-

factors-edfd-460-461-462

P21 Framework Definitions and Descriptions