As educators, we open the doors to our classrooms to students from all walks of life. The findings of this case study resonate with my own experiences working with children who arrive at school with very different levels of academic readiness. In my classroom, I can see the ways that early experiences, whether they hinder or enhance access to resources, shape a students confidence, engagement and foundational skills far behind the years of primary school. Examining this research for my case study helped me reflect on how I can better recognize the disparities and respond with a more equitable practice that create learning environment that respects each students background, while as well supporting those who began school with a disadvantage.
By connecting the study’s insights to my own teaching practice, I am able to consider how policy-level issues can manifest within the classroom and how my role as a classroom teacher can help bridge gaps in readiness, belonging and academic success. For this artifact I have chosen a case study assignment for EDUC 633: Human Development: Implications for Education titled “Closing the gap in Academic Readiness and Achievement: The Role of Early Childcare” (Geoffroy et al., 2010) .