By Aubree DeVisser | Echo
Taylor students JuMP into the Junior Methods Practicum, a program for junior elementary education majors. JuMP gives these students an opportunity to teach in classrooms in surrounding areas every Tuesday and Thursday, gaining hands-on experience that may guide them toward their careers.
Cindy Tyner, professor of education and department chair, explained the emphasis Taylor places on diversity and experience for elementary education (el ed) majors.
"They have one teacher first semester and one teacher second semester in different school buildings. So one could be an inner city school and the next one could be a rural school," Tyner said.
On top of teaching two times a week, they have four JuMP classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Alongside these classes, most students take one or two additional courses specialized to their concentration.
"So for me, I have the four JuMP classes on MWF, then an extra special education class because (special education is) my concentration," Aaron Hussey, a junior involved in JuMP, said.
Hussey also spoke of the limited amount of busy work in JuMP classes and the overall experience, affirming it's been amazing. Everything students learn pertains to what they will be doing in their careers, which gives each student more knowledge and insight on how to be a successful teacher, according to Tyner.
Becca Gerig, a junior in the JuMP program, explained the range of classes the students participate in. The el ed majors do an early education class, such as kindergarten and first grade, a lower elementary class, such as first through third grade, and lastly, an upper elementary class, which is fourth through sixth grade.
The JuMP students are expected to prepare and teach materials for the class, including activities and lesson plans. With increased practice at a variety of grade levels plus experience alongside the actual teachers, these future teachers will be confident going into the real world of education.
"My teacher told me before, you can't teach someone to teach, you just have to do it," Gerig said.
The ability to go out and discover first-hand how the system works and what to expect can lead these students to success directly after college. Even though each day is full and busy, the chance to work in a real teaching environment is worth the effort, both Gerig and Hussey confirmed.
The juniors involved in JuMP persevere through the stress of developing lessons and teaching students twice a week; they've invested their hearts into this program and will continue to take on the challenges throughout the rest of the academic year.
"I do not know how to explain it, but I just have been impacted by the kids' innocence and reckless love of life. I am always inspired by kids' faith in things," Hussey said. "It makes me hopeful and excited to be in the profession I am in."
