View Transcript In the movie above, a series of words will appear, each relating to a person or group of people. Try to develop a mental picture of each person or group, and then write the first two or three adjectives that come to mind describing that person. You will have approximately 7 seconds to write your First Thoughts for each word. (Time : 1:49) View Transcript  |  View Description Look over your responses to the First Thoughts activity. Then click on the movie above to get some feedback on your responses. (Time : 4:25)

We like to think that when we look at the world, we see it objectively. We tend to think reality is exactly what we see. It exists in the order and detail in which we see it. Some people dislike paintings that are impressionistic or abstract because they do not see the "objective" or details from the same perspective as the artist. But, how neutral are we when we look at the world around us? For example, when we take a photograph, are we capturing exactly what is there, or are we capturing how we look at what is there?

The image shown in a photograph is determined by the photographer's choices: the angle of the shot, the lighting, the specific details to be focused upon. When we see a photograph that we think captures an exact image, we are really looking through the lens of the photographer, and we see what that person chose to let us see.

When you enter a classroom, you view the students through a "personal lens" that has been shaped by your life experiences. The people you have lived and worked with, the values and traditions of your home culture, the characteristics of the community in which you were raised... all of these and more contribute to your personal lens.

It is important to understand the personal lens that you bring to the classroom setting. Once you are aware of this, you are better able to separate yourself, your background, and your viewpoints from any situation. You can then make conscious decisions regarding what you choose to see, view students from the many different angles of their lives, and get a much clearer picture of who they really are.

Have you been wondering about the pictures on this page? Click here to see the "big picture."

Click on the appropriate descriptor(s) that will complete the following statements about your own school experiences as a high school student. (Click all that apply.) My family background could be characterized as: upper middle lower socioeconomic income level. My high school was located in a community that could be characterized as: upper middle lower socioeconomic income level. The student population in my high school was primarily (can select 2): White/Anglo Hispanic/Latino African American Native American Asian American culturally diverse (a mixture of 2 or more groups). The primary method of instruction in my high school was: lecture hands-on independent learning group work. Click on the appropriate descriptor(s) that will complete the following statements about the students in your classroom. (Click all that apply.) My students' family backgrounds could be characterized as: upper middle lower socioeconomic income level. The school where I teach is located in a community that could be characterized as: upper middle lower socioeconomic income level. The student population in school is primarily (can select 2): White/Anglo Hispanic/Latino African American Native American Asian American culturally diverse (a mixture of 2 or more groups). The primary method of instruction recommended for my students is: lecture hands-on independent learning group work. Questions: How similar or different are your own experiences from those of your students? How might these similarities or differences impact your perceptions of your students? How might these perceptions impact your instruction and student learning?