Post by title1parent on Feb 7, 2009 7:49:43 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/1416035,2_4_AU06_SHERMAN_S1.article
Youngsters on campus: a solution that works
February 6, 2009 Beacon
Sometimes when necessity drives us to find creative solutions, something truly great is born. In 1996, a two-year experiment turned into an educational partnership for Aurora University and West Aurora School District 129. While waiting for Jewel Middle School to be built, fourth-grade students from Freeman Elementary were offered space at Aurora University. Seeing how well this worked -- giving fourth-graders a chance to experience a college campus and students in AU's College of Education extra hands-on teaching experience -- the program has continued even after space was no longer the issue.
Led by the outstanding team of teachers -- Randy and Debbie Steinheimer, Sue Hard, and Laurie Mitz -- the fourth-graders are treated to an amazing year at AU. Randy Steinheimer explained, "Under the supervision of university faculty and the fourth-grade teaching team, undergraduate students enrolled in Methods of Teaching courses learn to teach and conduct lessons with the fourth-graders in small groups. With college students working in their classrooms, the fourth-graders get more one-on-one instruction."
Not only do they receive extra one-on-one attention from future teachers, they also experience the university science and computer labs, get to produce their own cable television program, enjoy great food (that's the thing the kids all say is best) and learn about archeology at the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures.
As if this weren't enough for these fourth-graders to start thinking about attending AU some day, the university gives a $1,000 scholarship to each of these students as they graduate from the program. This generous gift is renewable each year the student attends full-time and maintains good academic standing.
Heather McKane, dean of student financial services at AU, told me that students began using these scholarships in 2005, and 28 students have used it so far. AU has given out $40,950 so far for this Partnership School Scholarship.
"This wonderful gesture sealed the futures for many fourth-graders," said Randy Steinheimer. "Learning on the campus of Aurora University afforded the fourth-graders the opportunity to see that learning continues after high school. They became a community of life-long learners. It was no longer a question of 'If I go to college,' but rather the statement of 'When I go to college' for many of our students."
Scott Zinzer is one of the current AU students who was once a fourth-grader in the partnership school. When I asked him whether his fourth-grade experience had any impact on his decision to attend AU later, he said, "I'm sure I was drawn to AU because of the positive experiences I had as a fourth-grader. During my first semester (as a college student), I often found myself trying to remember where I had been on campus when I was in fourth grade and trying to remember how the rooms and buildings looked back then. The old partnership building was transformed into the music center the summer before I began my college career. Because I've been a member of AU chorale, I've spent many days making music in the same building where I spent my fourth-grade year."
The program has worked so well that former House Speaker Dennis Hastert came in 2003 to award a $10 million grant to build the present Institute for Collaboration in Education on AU's campus. In January 2007 the program expanded to include about 100 fifth-graders from McCleery School. This model may someday be used in many other American cities to benefit both elementary and college students. And it all started because of a creative solution to some overcrowding.
Youngsters on campus: a solution that works
February 6, 2009 Beacon
Sometimes when necessity drives us to find creative solutions, something truly great is born. In 1996, a two-year experiment turned into an educational partnership for Aurora University and West Aurora School District 129. While waiting for Jewel Middle School to be built, fourth-grade students from Freeman Elementary were offered space at Aurora University. Seeing how well this worked -- giving fourth-graders a chance to experience a college campus and students in AU's College of Education extra hands-on teaching experience -- the program has continued even after space was no longer the issue.
Led by the outstanding team of teachers -- Randy and Debbie Steinheimer, Sue Hard, and Laurie Mitz -- the fourth-graders are treated to an amazing year at AU. Randy Steinheimer explained, "Under the supervision of university faculty and the fourth-grade teaching team, undergraduate students enrolled in Methods of Teaching courses learn to teach and conduct lessons with the fourth-graders in small groups. With college students working in their classrooms, the fourth-graders get more one-on-one instruction."
Not only do they receive extra one-on-one attention from future teachers, they also experience the university science and computer labs, get to produce their own cable television program, enjoy great food (that's the thing the kids all say is best) and learn about archeology at the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures.
As if this weren't enough for these fourth-graders to start thinking about attending AU some day, the university gives a $1,000 scholarship to each of these students as they graduate from the program. This generous gift is renewable each year the student attends full-time and maintains good academic standing.
Heather McKane, dean of student financial services at AU, told me that students began using these scholarships in 2005, and 28 students have used it so far. AU has given out $40,950 so far for this Partnership School Scholarship.
"This wonderful gesture sealed the futures for many fourth-graders," said Randy Steinheimer. "Learning on the campus of Aurora University afforded the fourth-graders the opportunity to see that learning continues after high school. They became a community of life-long learners. It was no longer a question of 'If I go to college,' but rather the statement of 'When I go to college' for many of our students."
Scott Zinzer is one of the current AU students who was once a fourth-grader in the partnership school. When I asked him whether his fourth-grade experience had any impact on his decision to attend AU later, he said, "I'm sure I was drawn to AU because of the positive experiences I had as a fourth-grader. During my first semester (as a college student), I often found myself trying to remember where I had been on campus when I was in fourth grade and trying to remember how the rooms and buildings looked back then. The old partnership building was transformed into the music center the summer before I began my college career. Because I've been a member of AU chorale, I've spent many days making music in the same building where I spent my fourth-grade year."
The program has worked so well that former House Speaker Dennis Hastert came in 2003 to award a $10 million grant to build the present Institute for Collaboration in Education on AU's campus. In January 2007 the program expanded to include about 100 fifth-graders from McCleery School. This model may someday be used in many other American cities to benefit both elementary and college students. And it all started because of a creative solution to some overcrowding.