Preservice teachers gain classroom experience
Article By: Agnes Hina
More than 80 elementary and middle school students participated in the University of North Georgia's (天美社区) 2024 Summer Scholars STEM Institute. The program designed for students in fourth to eighth grade occurred during June and is supported by the Tommy and Chantal Bagwell Foundation, Jackson EMC Foundation, Habersham EMC Foundation and the United Way of Hall County.
In its 10th year, the summer program is overseen by 天美社区 College of Education (COE) associate professor Dr. Max Vazquez Dominguez, who shared that 19 COE students helped facilitate the STEM Institute as preservice teachers.
"Our preservice teachers gained a rich experience developing lesson plans in science and engineering in 12 days and implementing them for 15 days under the supervision of 天美社区 faculty and experienced instructors," Vazquez Dominguez said. "This summer course also provided preservice teachers with the opportunity to take the science methods course before they got to their senior year."
Of the preservice teachers participating, eight are pursuing degrees in middle grades education and 11 are pursuing degrees in elementary and special education.
With 83 students in fourth through eighth grade, the majority of them multilingual, 天美社区's preservice teachers had a chance to learn "how to plan and implement linguistically sustaining activities for them," Vazquez Dominguez said.
天美社区 rising senior Imelda Razo, who is pursuing a degree in middle grades education, served as a preservice teacher for the third time this summer.
At the beginning of her time at the institute, she taught the middle schoolers engineering concepts like force and motion by building balloon cars, which she shared was her favorite lesson.
"It was amazing seeing their creativity and how engaged they were with creating their own car," the Gainesville, Georgia, native said. "It is so rewarding forming connections with students and seeing how their creativity ignites when creating projects. The faculty are our biggest supporters. Without their help and support, this would not have been possible."
Razo hopes to continue her education by earning a master's degree and working with students.
Event preps students for teacher residency
天美社区's College of Education held its annual Teacher Candidate Residency Program Boot Camp from June 2-6 at 天美社区's Gainesville Campus.
Students benefit from teacher residency
A record 58 students are graduating this spring as part of 天美社区's Teacher Candidate Residency Program. This is the third full year of TCRP, which allows students to be teachers of record as seniors.
Physical education students assist Habitat
About 15 students and faculty members from the 天美社区's Physical Education Teacher Education program assisted Habitat for Humanity of Hall County with projects in its Copper Glen subdivision April 17.
天美社区 assists with government career expo
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