Chapeter 13 of Grant and Ray's text focused on the teachers role as a resource and advocate to their students families. The text talked about the difference of being an asset based teacher and a family centered one. I think that it is very important to be both, but I really liked how they spoke about the importance of being and asset- based teacher. Asset based teachers are those who focus a lot on the good qualities that the students have and the areas that are strong in. They do not ignore the areas the students may be weak in, but they focus on the positives so that this positive energy helps students find confidence in their ability to do things well. The confidence that these students gain allow them to be more confident in trying to work on the areas they are weak in. I think that a lot of the time is spent in the classroom on focusing on where a students weaknesses lie, but I believe that a lot of progress can be made in those areas if the teacher focuses a lot of time on the students areas of strength.
It is also important to be a family centered teacher, because when you are one you are sensitive to the families needs. You respect where their problems may lie and you try to work with them. A resourceful teacher is one that combines both the asset based and family centered approach to their technique for helping families.
Liza- I couldn't agree with you more. I really like what you said about being an asset-based teacher. I often feel that in early childhood, children's struggles are due to a lack of self-esteem, thinking they can't do something or won't have the right answer. Building a child's confidence can do so much and carry over into other areas. I think as teachers its easy to comment on the bad behavior, and to not acknowledge when a child is working positively.
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