SELF ASSESSMENT

The CIRLI method calls on teachers to examine their own attitudes and perceptions of both students and communities as well as the  behaviors related to the real life issues that students face.

Self assessment is an exercise where each teacher examines his or her own attitudes and dispositions.  Students are adept at picking up both verbal and nonverbal cues that indicate how teachers really feel about them as people and their capacity to learn. 

Below are a few suggestions to help you  reflect on your own experience and attitudes towards  both real life issues that students confront  and  teaching diverse student populations. 

Reflections on Real Life Issues 
  • What are your recollections and thoughts about your own life experience with drugs, alcohol, STDs, and other issues as they pertain to your own life. 
  • Who were the significant adults in your life in relationship to these problems?  Think about the kinds of responses from important adults- including teachers- that were (or would have been) most helpful to you when you were a student.
  • Bullying and social ostracism by definition involve power. An imbalance of power is inherent in the student/teacher relationship. Reflect upon memories or literature in which teachers bullied or ostracized students (or created an environment where this could occur). 
    How can you safeguard against this in your teaching?
  • What are your attitudes towards students who display problem behaviors? Are such students “written off” or is there a belief that they can learn? How is the belief demonstrated and expressed? What memories or reading can be drawn upon to support the belief that individuals can and do overcome problem behaviors or situations? 
  • Are your interactions with students of different races, ethnicities, languages, religions, genders, sexual orientations, ages, exceptionalities, or other backgrounds supportive or discouraging? Upon reflection, what changes might you make to keep your responses encouraging. 

Two websites we recommend:
 Free 5 CPDU online workshop through Northeastern Illinois University’s College of Education
 
Integrate pressing life issues into classes across the curriculum to effectively engage students in learning and support social emotional growth
 
CLICK HERE to access the online workshop
 
No need to come to a training.  Download and complete the online workshop at your own pace