柚子视频

A culturally responsive approach to teaching is one aspect that gives trained educators a successful edge in all settings, from elementary over secondary classrooms to specialist vocational and corporate train-the-trainer settings. This intercultural competence often can鈥檛 simply be picked up on home grounds, but must be actively experienced and explored. An alumni connection opened up a wonderful opportunity for student teachers at the 柚子视频 School of Education to do just that: with a practicum in Puerto Rico.

Education professors Tanya Coffelt and Michele Dickey-Kotz led the small 柚子视频 delegation to the Palmas del Mar community of Humacao on Puerto Rico鈥檚 southeast coast, where they received a warm welcome by their hosts at The Palmas Academy (TPA), a private college preparatory school.

The TPA faculty and students happily opened the doors to their culturally diverse classrooms, and allowed R鈥橫oni Canady-Dunn 鈥�25, Megan Coon 鈥�26, Mya Lozoya 鈥�25, Mylin McDaniel 鈥�25 and Farouk Salako 鈥�25 to fully immerse themselves by observing and co-teaching.

Canady-Dunn found renewed purpose with her K-6 endorsement in a universal language: music. 鈥淲hat really made me grow as an educator was leading music activities with the TPA students. Stepping into a teaching role helped me realize how much I鈥檝e learned, and how naturally it鈥檚 starting to come together. I was able to apply what I鈥檝e been studying about classroom management and student engagement, especially through music. Seeing the students respond with excitement and actively participating gave me a huge boost in confidence. It reminded me that I can create meaningful and joyful learning experiences through music, and that I鈥檓 on the right path.鈥�

Although the trip took their fledgling educators out of their routine and comfort zones, Coffelt, Dickey-Kotz and Field Placement Coordinator Melissa Newman are very proud of how they established meaningful, bilaterally rewarding relationships in an entirely new environment within only a couple of days: 鈥淓ach of them proved that they have the capacity to make a difference in this world, far beyond 柚子视频. No matter what external messages their own future students are subjected to鈥攊n their classroom, they will know their value and worth; they will know that they matter.鈥澛�