Fisher,+Shawna,+Peer+Relations

My name is Shawna Fisher and this is my family.I am the mother of five boys and one little girl. Brian and I have been married almost 17 years and love raising this family together!! My education and career goals are a work in progress. I plan on finishing my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and apply for the Masters of Arts in Teaching after I graduate. I have always wanted to teach fourth or fifth grade, but after spending time in a Kindergarten class, I would love to teach there as well.

**WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?** There are many things that bring me joy, but first and foremost is my husband, Brian. He makes me laugh and feel safe no matter what we are doing. My children are my heart!! Their names are Justin, Matthew, Cody, Benjamin, Olivia, and Cooper. Family is the most important thing in my life. I find joy in spending time with my siblings, parents and extended family. We love to play football, baseball, basketball, watch movies, and camp together.

**WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR ABOUT BEING A TEACHER?** My greatest fear about being a teacher is not providing my students with a safe environment in which to grow and try new things. I had the privilege of having many teachers that encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. That is what I want to be able to give to my students.

**DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCE A TIME WHEN SOMETHING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LEARN?** Creative writing has always been difficult for me. I don't think of myself as creative, so to think outside of the box is not something that comes easy to me. In several classes I was surrounded by very creative people who could write short stories and poems very quickly. I always felt embarrassed that my work was not very interesting. I quickly learned how to avoid reading my work in front of others.

**HOW MIGHT THIS PIECE OF YOUR HISTORY HELP YOU CONNECT TO STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES?** I believe that I can encourage students to keeping trying when things are difficult at first. Because I had a teacher that encouraged me, I was able to push myself through and be very happy with the pieces that I wrote in class. I hope to be that teacher for my students.

**WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GAIN FROM THIS COURSE?** I want to gain a deeper understanding of the issues that some children deal with that makes them feel like they don't fit in with their classmates. How can I reach students with learning and physical disabilities? How can I make sure my students know that I acknowledge and honor each one of them?

**The topic I chose for my Wiki is Peer Relations.** What is Peer Relations? As a mother, I have watched my children struggle with having friends and fitting in. I have seen these relationships effect my children's school work and overall happiness. My goal in studying this topic is to see what effect peer relations actually have on a child's academic achievements and how important are these relationships to our children.

**TOP 5 THINGS I LEARNED:**
 * 1) Peer relations will shape a young person's opinion of themselves. Children will base their self-esteem on how others view them.
 * 2) Peer relations serve as models to help children mold their behaviors and beliefs.
 * 3) Family problems can effect a child's peer relationships because they do not allow anyone into their private lives.
 * 4) Students with disabilities NEED relationships with students without disabilities. This helps both sets of students develop a stronger sense of self-esteem.
 * 5) Peer relationships are always changing. We, as educators, need to understand the importance of these relationships in our students' lives.

This is based on an organization called Circle of Friends. The basis of this groups is to create relationships between students with disabilities and their peers who do not have disabilities. This clip shows how these relationships can change lives. I would love to be involved with this organization!
 * MY TOP RESOURCE:**
 * RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars**, and yet it seems like it should be rated a 10!

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1. **RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars.** The video is created as a film trailer, about a young girl who makes a friend. This friendship saves this young girl's life. This is just one example of the importance of peer relations amongst students.

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2. **RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars.** The video clip is very informative about the importance of peer relations, however, it is not the best quality. The information provided is very helpful.

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3. **RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars.** This document is from the Educational Encyclopedia and has interesting information regarding the age of the child and how important peers are to them. media type="custom" key="18050038"

4. **RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars.** This article could be very helpful because it discusses the effects that peer relationships have on the child during different times in their life. As a teacher, this was a very informative source. [|peer relations]

5. **RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars.** The following article is also about Circleofriends.org. This is from the Union Tribune in San Diego, California. The spotlight is put on this amazing organization that unites students as friends. The article is inspiring! [|Circle of Friends]

6. **RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars.** This video is touching. It shows the importance of having friends for students with disabilities. However, does not have a lot of content, but still very heartfelt. media type="custom" key="18599238"

7. **RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars.** This article is geared more towards parents. It offers helpful tips on what to do to help our middle school students handle their relationships with friends. As teachers, we need to be able to offer suggestions to parents when they ask for help. This would be a good source. [|Tips for peer relations]

8. **RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars.** The following video is a group of students discussing what they believe relationships are and why they are important. It was interesting to learn that when this students heard the word "relationship," they began talking about romantic relationships. We need to be aware of the definitions used by our students. [|Peer Relations Video]

9. **RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars.** This video is from the perspective of students. The actors on this video discuss the attributes of friendship, the definition of peer pressure, both positive and negative. The students also give advice on what to do when faced with peer pressure, dating and other issues that students encounter in their relationships. This would be a great video for the classroom. media type="custom" key="18629562"