Rationale for Role of the Teacher in a Community

of Learners
Alverno Advanced Education Ability: Integrative Interaction Acts with
professional values as a situational decision-maker, adapting to the changing
needs in the environment in order to develop students as learners.
Wisconsin Standards for Educator Development and Licensure:
Standard 5 The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group
motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages
positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and selfmotivation.
In Literacy in Middle Childhood, ED325A, I explored the elementary
grade literacy curriculum, including language, reading, and writing. In
addition to learning about how the student learns, I learned many literacy
learning strategies, how to select appropriate materials, and design
appropriate and authentic experiences for the younger readers. As one of the
culminating assignments, I was asked to write about the roles of the teacher
within a community of learners.
In this assignment, I explored the many hats that the teacher has to
wear as the lead learner in a classroom. One of the many roles I explored
was classroom designer. In this role it is imperative that the teacher creates
a safe environment conducive to learning. Using professional knowledge to
make decisions on that environment and adapting to changes in classroom
dynamics demonstrates Alvernos ability of Integrative Interaction. Teachers
must be flexible and adapt to the changing moods of students, resources,
and time constraints in order to optimize the learning environment for their
students.
Wisconsin teaching standard 5 asks teachers to know how to manage a
classroom. Going along with classroom design is the intent to create positive
social interactions for students by flexibly grouping students for dialogue and
collaboration. When I described the role of the teacher as an astute observer,
I am demonstrating my understanding that keen observations can lead to
adjustments in social groupings or in environment so that students may
consistently be in their own Zone of Proximal Development.