Adopt a School-Adopt a Class Project
Teacher Candidates enrolled in Principles of Learning and Teaching II
are involved in Adopt a School Adopt a Class (AS-AC) projects.
These projects are implemented in public schools that are considered
to be Priority schools
as they serve diverse and challenging populations of children.
Teacher candidates submit a proposal with a description of the project,
project goals and objectives, a timeline, necessary resources and budget.
The project
is reviewed by the school principal and Elon faculty member for approval.
During the project, teacher candidates keep a running log of
activities and
reflections and design surveys to evaluate the impact of their work.
The log, with a final report, is turned in at the end of the
project.
Project Features | Project Goals | Examples
Recent Projects
Unique features of this project:
- Although Elon faculty and public school personnel approve
and oversee the projects, teacher candidates (not faculty) design
the projects resulting in a personal investment in the outcome.
- This project prepares teacher candidates to become leaders
in initiating innovative ideas when they accept a teaching position.
- This
project involves parents in the education of their children, a
critical component in student achievement.
- Candidates collaborate
with school principals and cooperating teachers to determine specific
projects that are mutually beneficial.
These benefit the schools and/or teachers’/students’ classrooms
and allow teacher candidates to be immersed in the culture of
the school through
increased field experience hours and tasks, related to meaningful
goals and objectives.
Project Goals
- To instill in Teacher Candidates an abiding and active sense of
social responsibility and civic concern.
- To recognize that a school is more than a group of classrooms, i.e., that a school has a culture and that that culture has an impact on student learning.
- To recognize that accepting a faculty position in a school goes beyond teaching in the classroom and requires a commitment to improving the school community as well.
- To take a leadership role in designing and implementing a project that will enhance the school environment/culture and ultimately student learning.
- To engage in a project that involves parents in the school community.
- To prepare teacher candidates to write grant proposals when they have their own classrooms.
- To say thank-you to the faculty, staff, parents and children for the opportunity to be a part of their work.
Project Examples
- Science Saturdays
- Organizing after school clubs (cooking, crafts, basketball,
etc.)
- Painting a mural with the students
- Cleaning, painting, organizing storage rooms, classrooms, media centers, etc.
- Landscaping the grounds
- Planting a garden with students
- Tutoring during or after school
- Providing individual or group technology workshops for teachers and/or students (creating class webpages, personal websites, using software such as Inspiration and KidPix, etc.)
- Bringing Study Abroad home
- Organizing fundraising activities
   
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