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Education students have it in the bag

Intergenerational art and reading project unites Eagles of all ages

June 9, 2016

Educators need to not only be adept at lesson planning, but also at producing simple instructions for substitute teachers. Education majors in the Advanced Children's Literature course had the chance to put this into practice last April.

Dr. Jill Raisor, assistant professor of education, and Dr. Joyce Gulley, associate professor of education, recently put their heads together to give students practice designing lessons for others, and allow them to connect with the greater University community including faculty, staff, retirees and children attending USI's Children's Learning Center (CLC).

The project, I AM USI, was funded by an Innovation Grant provided by Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. "The goal of the project was to challenge teacher candidates to take an active role in their learning by applying theoretical concepts in real-world situations," said Raisor.

It began with a survey to determine the reading interests of children at the CLC. From there, students were provided a topic and a list of art supplies (e.g. fairy tales, fun foam, pipe cleaners, clay and finger paints), and with this small amount of information they assembled teaching totes. The totes contained high quality picture books, art supplies and an instructional brochure to guide the volunteer "substitutes" through activities with the children. Volunteers consisted of USI faculty, staff and retirees. After implementing the totes with the children at CLC, the volunteers filled out a feedback form to evaluate the instructions, books and lessons.

One lesson brochure dove into the subject of emotions. Children were read the book Glad Monster, Sad Monster, containing varying facial expressions in the form of pop-up monsters. Children created their own emotion monster mask with paper, cutting out ears, eyes, mouths and other features.

Another activity involved discussion of similarities and differences. The book, The Hueys In: The New Sweater, featured characters called the "Hueys". Choosing from puff balls, yarn, glitter and pipe cleaners, the children crafted their own Huey. Looking at one another's creations, they could then note what commonalities they shared as well as the individualities of their character.

Raisor said the intergenerational experience united USI Eagles at every phase of life, from children to retirees. "We can learn so much from each other and this project provided a means of bringing them together full circle. We hope the experience increased student retention and affirmed that this was the career they want to pursue."

Volunteers included Bob Boostrom, professor of education; Joy Howard, assistant professor of education; Jeff Thomas, professor of education; Jenni Mohr, associate professor of education; Julie Whorl, administrative assistant in biology; Terri Branson, instructor in teacher education; and Pam Bushkill, retired Children's Learning Center coordinator. USI student, Kaleigh Constantino, served as a research assistant.

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