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Grand Rapids Community College is an equal opportunity institution. GRCC is a tobacco free campus. 1213-6363 10/13

teacher EDUCATION at grcc

A New Year, A New You - Time passes so quickly and here we are in the midst of a new school year. Welcome back!

The Teacher Education department would like to encourage you to set some goals for this year. If you are a new student and plan to be a teacher, we want you to take full advantage of the resources in our department. For example, you can find out what courses are required here for elementary or secondary education majors by picking up handouts in the Child Development/Education office, in 266 Main. You can also go online to the teacher education website and get even more information about what we have to offer. If you are a returning student, you already know the ropes, so continue with your good work and plan to attend our seminars when you can. Also, don’t forget our Teachers of Tomorrow

Fall 2012

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scholarship. Applications are due in March, but it’s not too early to begin getting your application together. The Winter edition of this newsletter will give you more information on writing the essay and getting good letters of recommendation. Again, welcome back and we hope you’re having a great semester.

Congratulations TOT Scholarship Winners - Seven students were awarded the Teachers of Tomorrow Scholarship for 2012. Their academic excellence makes them outstanding role models for other aspiring teachers. We extend our best wishes to the following honorees:- Kayleigh Hendricks- Tonya Hunt- Lexi Kamps- Katelyn Moore- Holly Reid- Becky Schictel- Dawn Worst

Teacher Education Faculty Member Honored - Grand Rapids Community College bestowed one of its Excellence in Education Awards to Education Professor Diane Sparks. The award is the college’s highest recognition, and is given annually to one faculty and one staff member for his or her contributions to the college, higher education, and the community. Each recipient receives a $1000 cash award

and a matching award goes to the GRCC Foundation in each recipient’s name. President Steven Ender said, “This award speaks to the quality of the individuals we have working at GRCC, and I am extremely proud of Diane… The nomination process is a stringent one, and the fact that the nominations came from not just…peers, but from a cross-section of individuals from the GRCC community makes it that much more special.” Among the award criteria categories outlined are respect for people and environment, responsiveness, integrity and diversity.The Teacher Education department is proud of Diane’s accomplishments and this honor she so richly deserves.

Diane Sparks receives the Excellence in Education Award at GRCC’s opening day ceremonies.

IN THIS ISSUE:A New Year, A New You ........................ 1

Mark Your Calendars ............................. 2

Where’s YOUR Raider Card? ................. 3

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification 2012-2013 Test Schedule ........................ 4

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Mark Your Calendars - The Teacher Education seminars are set for this fall semester. The first seminar was held on September 18, featuring Christy Buck from the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. She focused on proactive approaches to bullying and how it can impact students’ mental health. October 10 was our annual Transfer Fair and November 15 focuses on Curriculum Standards. The November 6 topic will be announced later.Please make note of the dates and check out the posters on bulletin around campus.

We look forward to seeing you. Remember, we have snacks too!

A Class for YOU - Before you know it, registration time will be here for Winter classes. One class that you might want to consider is ED220—Integrating the Arts in Elementary Education. Its prerequisite is the successful completion of CD 118 with a grade of C- or better. This course is designed to meet the performing and visual arts requirements for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. The course will be team taught, integrating content and pedagogy from visual art, music, and theater. Students will collaborate on projects using identified pedagogical practices to enhance teaching and learning through creative problem solving. Course fee: $15. The course is transferrable to GVSU as MAT300, and to Ferris as ARTS131 (1 credit), MUSI131 (1 credit), and 1 general theater credit.Offered Winter M/W 10am-12 p.m., Section 5315. See Staci in 266 Main to register.

Don’t Just Sit There, Volunteer! - Throughout the semester, there will be numerous opportunities for you to volunteer to get experience beyond your course work in school settings. These opportunities are at three schools in the greater Grand Rapids area—Martin Luther King Leadership Academy (SE), Harrison Park School (NW) and East Kentwood High School. For several years now, we have partnered with Martin Luther King, a school that serves a diverse population of students from pre-school through eighth grade. As a “community school,” it strives to meet the needs of its families as well as its students. Several GRCC education majors have volunteered to tutor and mentor there and found it to

teacher EDUCATION at grcc

be richly rewarding. Working in this type of setting also provides you with experiences that many hiring districts are looking for—diversity and community connections. Whether your interest is in elementary (K-5) or secondary (middle school), this would be a great place to volunteer. Harrison Park School, on the city’s northwest side, is looking for academic support for their students for at least an hour each week. Harrison Park recently became a “Challenge Scholars” school, meaning that through a grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, all of their students who complete high school will have a college scholarship to any university in Michigan. With as much academic support as possible and through establishing college connections, Harrison Park hopes to develop and sustain a strong “college-going” culture. This is a new opportunity for teacher education students. If you are interested, contact Carole Redwine (credwine@grcc.edu) in Teacher Education Support Services for more information. A second new opportunity this year is for secondary majors. The East Kentwood Freshman Academy is looking for tutors to work with at-risk students. The purpose is to help build their academic skills and confidence so that they can move confidently through high school and eventually into college. Again, for further information, contact Carole Redwine.

Christy Brinks shares information on bullying and mental health.

Student s l i s ten for ways to handle bul l y ing s i tuat ions .

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teacher EDUCATIONRoom 266, Main BuildingPhone: (616) 234-3380 or 234-4664E-mail: TeachEd@grcc.eduwww.grcc.edu/tep

Staci DeverProgram SecretaryPhone: (616) 234-3380Office: Room 266, Main BuildingE-mail: sdever@grcc.edu

Carole RedwineTeacher Education Support ServicesPhone: (616) 234-4664Office: Room 301, Main BuildingE-mail: credwine@grcc.edu

Rebecca BrinksProgram DirectorPhone: (616) 234-4084Office: Room 266, Main BuildingE-mail: bbrinks@grcc.edu

Tricia SiegelSeminar Planner Phone: (616) 234-3075Office: Room 266E, Main BuildingEmail: tsiegel@grcc.edu

teacher EDUCATION at grcc

Where’s YOUR Raider Card? - It’s not just for parking and food anymore! You can now get free admission to five Grand Rapids area museums. Effective teachers take their students beyond the classroom. They know how to incorporate the real world into their teaching so that students can relate to what they are learning. GRCC and Teacher Education want you to expand your horizons, so we encourage you to take advantage of the Go See GR! Program. Under this agreement with local museums, all current GRCC students and employees now have FREE general admission access to all of the following downtown cultural organizations with their GRCC Raider card: the Public Museum, the Art Museum, the Children’s Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. We urge you to take advantage of this program to build your repertoire of ideas for developing lessons in your subject area. Remember that teaching and learning occurs in and out of the classroom.

ArtPrize: A Parent’s (And Teacher’s) Tool Box - Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, columnist for the Grand Rapids Press, gave some excellent tips in September 23’s issue on using ArtPrize with kids. She maintains that our city’s premier art event is a great time for them not only to explore the world of art, but also to participate in the discussion. You

can read her entire article on page G3, and while she is talking about how to inspire our own children, there are some valuable highlights for us to think about as teachers: 1. “Let them linger in front of the art that captivates them… Kids get excited about art when adults give them the space to discover it for themselves.” 2. “…Nothing beats the commentary of pint-sized art critics commenting on what they see. The key here is to offer repeated, gentle reminders about how to tactfully and politely discuss what they like and don’t like about the art on display.”3. “Treat it like an adventure…looking for excellent art together. It’s a team effort.”4. “If the sign on an entry says it’s OK to touch it, don’t freak out when your kid reads the sign and touches it.” [This is really helpful for kinesthetic learners.]5. “Give your kids a pencil and a notebook…Encourage your kids to carry these around and jot notes and draw sketches in response to the artwork they like.” 6. “Ask your kids questions about what they see. Kids love to give their opinions, and now is a great time to train them to think critically about art. Dig deeper than a simple thumbs up, thumbs down. Ask …questions to naturally prompt a discussion…Ask them if they have any questions about the entries and, if you see an artist nearby and available, encourage [them] to ask the artist a question.”7. “The most important objective is to have fun and take advantage of the free art education.”

GVSU Offers Special ProgramGrand Valley State University has established its COMPASS program, which seeks to increase the number of underrepresented students in the education profession. It will serve as a roadmap for students who have the desire to teach, but may need assistance with admission into the College of Education. To be admitted to the program, you have to be either a first-generation college student, a student from an urban district, or a member of an underrepresented group.The application process requires a written personal statement expressing why you want to teach, why you want to be in the program and why you need support to help you become a teacher. You will also need two letters of recommendation from a faculty member, a successful background check, and a signed statement agreeing to comply with program requirements. The COMPASS program provides test preparation for the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, mentoring from College of Education faculty and staff, service learning experiences, professional development, seminars, writing assistance, and guest speakers. For more information, contact Carole Redwine at 234-4664 or credwine@grcc.edu.