Elementary classroom becomes real-life training ground for Roanoke students
December 14, 2016
A Salem elementary school classroom has become a training ground for Roanoke College students who are studying education.
This year, Roanoke students worked with East Salem Elementary School students to improve their reading and learning skills. Eight Roanoke students were paired with eight of the school's first through fifth graders as reading buddies.
The Roanoke students visited their East Salem buddies twice a week, where for an hour they read with students, including class reading and additional books of interest. They also did various activities related to the readings to further the students' thinking and interest. The program, which is part of a field based reading class taught by Dr. Lisa Earp at Roanoke, helps to improve elementary students' literacy and track their individual progress.
It also was a learning experience for Roanoke students.
This opportunity was one of the most valuable learning experiences that I believe has helped me to become a better educator. This time with my student has helped me to synthesize all of the teaching tactics, methods and theories that I have studied for three years at Roanoke College.
Alexandra Schmitt ’17, a Roanoke student in the class
Roanoke students planned reading instruction guides and implemented skills they learned from their own lectures with the elementary students
Through Roanoke's Pathways program, an experiential learning program for Roanoke College students, the class provided the East Salem students with journals, markers and other school supplies. Roanoke students also bought a book for each elementary student based on his or her specific interests.
"This class is so much more than just tutoring," said Ariel Wardle '17, a Roanoke student. "I haven't just tutored her [the East Salem student] but have also talked to her about right from wrong and other life lessons based on things she tells me. She opens up and shares things with me and it means a lot that she trusts me enough to do that. I'm not just a tutor for her but a mentor as well."