South Central Reporter

GU education majors get real-world experience

Instead of heading to the beaches to bask in the sun during the Interterm period in early January, several Greenville University School of Education students used that time to watch master teachers at work.

As a result, those future teachers returned to campus not with a sunburn, but with a burning desire to use the skills they learned during their two weeks of observation.

“It was a great experience,” said Molly Harnetiaux, a junior majoring in elementary education. “It showed me what a classroom is really like, and it allowed me to interact with all kinds of students. I now have a much more realistic idea of how to teach and lead a classroom.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Torrence Clark, a sophomore also majoring in elementary education, who received her field experience in the classroom of a 30-year teaching veteran.

“I learned valuable teaching techniques just by watching her work with her class,” Clark said. “She always knew exactly what to do when situations came up because she’s seen so much over the years.”

Those real-world lessons are precisely what GU education leaders were hoping for when they launched the Interterm observation program this year. Sixteen students were engaged in the program and served at either the elementary school or middle school in the Belle Valley School District in Belleville, Illinois. 

“This type of field experience can be an eye-opener for some of them,” said Crystal Foles, GU Director of Teacher Education. “Sometimes they have a fairy-tale view of education. That’s why we feel it’s important for them to have classroom experience early in their college years. This program allows them to see what a classroom is really like, and they can decide if they want to continue in education.”

The experience also helps prospective teachers decide if they want to specialize in a specific aspect of education by earning an endorsement in a certain area or by continuing their training to earn a master’s degree. 

“The Interterm program allowed our education majors to engage with the students in a mentor relationship,” Foles continued. “That was a very positive experience for many of them.”

Harnetiaux agreed: “The structure of this Interterm field experience program allowed me opportunities to connect with the students. But I also learned a lot about teaching by observing the teacher. I saw great examples of how to teach, how to lead, and how to control a class. Those practical skills will be very valuable as I move forward in my teaching career.”

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