SoE juniors grow with early classroom experience

Holly Hullinger-Sirken continually tells her students, “We learn by doing.' This is why the associate clinical professor in the School of Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne was seeking to give them practical experience before becoming student teachers.  

Hullinger-Sirken asked Fort Wayne Community Schools to partner in a new program that would initiate juniors into classrooms before traditionally entering student teaching as seniors. During the past two semesters, students in Hullinger-Sirken's language arts and reading courses spent Tuesday mornings at Study Elementary. A grant from PFW’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching provided materials, among other things.

After attending a lecture in the media center, the PFW students spent two hours working with classes, small groups, and individuals, concentrating on reading. Sometimes that meant working with third grade students to help them prepare for Indiana’s IREAD test.

On April 30, 22 PFW juniors who are aspiring teachers made short presentations to demonstrate their efforts to PFW and FWCS officials, including Isabel Nunez, dean of the School of Education, and five of their instructors. The FWCS contingent included Superintendent Mark Daniel.

Because Hullinger-Sirken prohibits using worksheets, the students showcased how they created learning tools from games such as Jenga, Jeopardy, bingo, and other sources to help their charges get enthused. While continually adapting to the circumstances, each PFW student built a manual of their plans and results. Some worked with kindergarten students one week and fifth graders the next.

“My assertiveness and decision-making skills have increased because making real-time decisions is easier now,” Audrey Franck said. “After learning the students and making relationships, you can figure out what is best for them. That was harder in the beginning because you are nervous and don’t want to do the wrong thing. I feel better now, and I’m better prepared.”

Collectively, the students said they were uptight the first few weeks—especially after three weather cancelations—when lesson plans may not have worked easily. Most PFW students were trying to be perfect, worried about proving their worth to veteran teachers, possibly forgetting those veterans were once newcomers.

“We were placed with a wonderful teacher, and she really helped guide us," Abby Lewis said. "I think she helped a lot in building our confidence, but also in just allowing us to practice.”

Lewis was paired with fellow PFW student Casey Hunter. The experience proved to both they had chosen the correct career path.

“You had to try out your lessons to see how the kids would engage, and maybe change it for the next time you taught it,” Hunter said. “I’m excited to see what happens over more than just an hour a day so I can actually see the improvement in my teaching.”

Study Elementary Principal Beth Kleber said the exercise was good for all involved. Along with bringing extra attention to individual elementary students, the program allowed veteran teachers to ask why the PFW team was using specific methods, and if a different way might be advantageous.

Kleber said PFW students implemented multitasking, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills while adding more vitality to the classrooms. It was fun, she said, to watch the young teachers grow.

As these students advance to student teaching as seniors, the program will continue at Study, and Hullinger-Sirken said there are discussions about expanding to other subjects and in more FWCS schools. Some PFW students who took part in the experiential during the first semester spent the second serving as substitute teachers when their class schedules allowed.

“They deliver so well because they have grown so much as learners and also as future teachers,” Hullinger-Sirken said. “They are ready to go. They could walk into a classroom that isn’t their student teaching placement, they could walk into their career classroom and be ready to start tomorrow—or yesterday. They are very, very well-prepared. They often leave me speechless. They are awesome.”