Teacher Training Education

This morning, instead of heading to Granite State College, GSC’s President paid a visit to a different kind of education institution:  Bow Elementary School!

Dr. Todd Leach, along with fellow college and university presidents across New Hampshire, joined young children in classrooms around the state for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a world-record-breaking campaign in which adults and children nationwide will read the same book on the same day to establish the largest group of people ever to collectively read the same story on a single date.

This year Jumpstart’s featured book is the New York Times bestselling children’s book, Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis.  

The purpose of this event is to shine a national spotlight on America's early education achievement gap and to highlight Jumpstart's programs as a way to address this crisis. It’s a goal that GSC certainly understands.

In our School of Education, the teacher preparation programs focus in on the critical shortage areas that exist in education, which includes our early childhood education major.

GSC is proud to support Jumpstart’s mission through Read for the Record and proud to contribute by empowering future educators in our undergraduate degree programs and post-baccalaureate programs for teacher education.

On a personal note...

As a Jumpstart alumni, I was excited to learn that the New Hampshire College and University Presidents were going to participate in 2012's Read for the Record and it was a pleasure to help coordinate on behalf of GSC! I did three terms of service while I was earning my bachelor's degree and even have some photos to prove it (note the "vintage" Jumpstart blue from 7 years ago!). 

-Jacqui Lantagne
Marketing Specialist, Granite State College
Jumpstart Corps Member and Team Leader, 2004-2007
 

Have you ever wondered if a college education was a good idea? Have you debated with yourself about going back to school, spending all that money to find out things you already know? Have friends told you there is no purpose in going to college?

Well, think for a minute about what you want to be doing 5, 10 even 20 years from now. Do you want to be doing the same thing you are doing now? Are you up to date with the latest technology for your field? Well a college education can help you to change careers or get up to date with the technological advances in your field. Recently I spoke to someone who started college right out of high school but then stopped. He works in the landscaping field. He wishes he knew something about running a business so he could work for himself. I suggested college courses and he said no way was he going to sit around in a classroom. Then I suggested on line courses. You can take them when your schedule allows it. You can take the courses you need for your career, or you can put together a program of classes for a particular degree. He is considering the idea and maybe you should too!

Did you know that Granite State College offers many different kinds of degree programs? They have on line and face to face  courses to meet your needs. Maybe you want Special Education Teacher certification after being a paraprofessional for many years.  Maybe you are thinking of an undergraduate psychology degree, or a health care management program. Consider the options and consider that things are changing so fast in our society, that without training, it will be hard for anyone to be prepared for a career, even 5 years from now. Don't be left behind. Think about your reason for a college education.

Well, I am on the road again, visiting more of New Hampshire's SAUs. I am meeting with Superintendents, Special Education Directors, HR specialists, Principals and anyone else who might be connected with the teachers (or future teachers) within the school districts. I think I am up to 28 SAU visits since September and the state has somewhere around 90...so I will be on the road often, since it is my goal to visit all of them!

Today's trip takes me to southern NH, to spread the word about Granite State College's Post Baccalureate Teacher Certification Programs and Advanced Endorsements for already certified teachers. Making sure that school administrators are familiar with Granite State College Teacher Preparation Programs  www.granite.edu/academics/teachers/educators.php 
helps teachers to continue learning and make a difference in their schools.

Travelling New Hampshire's highways and backroads in search of each district's schools provides for an interesting and fun day. I always loved fall and "back to school" time. The happy sounds of teachers' and children's voices in the schools and on the playgrounds reminds me of the excitement of learning, socializing and playing together. 

While this is my first year out of the classroom and not teaching, my visits to the different SAUs throughout the state are a lot of fun and very interesting. I especially enjoy talking with prospective teachers about the programs that Granite State College offers. The excitement of going back to college, taking adult online classes and becoming a teacher is contagious. It is a little bit like visiting those schools and playgrounds...it makes you feel so excited about learning and going back to school!

Wouldn't it be nice to say, "I think I will be a teacher, or a scientist, or a writer," and then go out and get a job doing exactly what you want? The idea is nice, but the reality is often very different. You may know what you want to do but the jobs may not be there. Or, you are not sure what you want to do so you try a few things, but none of them seem just right. Unfortunately, with our economy the way it is, any job is difficult to obtain, and even more difficult without the proper education.

This is where Granite State College comes in. Did you realize you could take courses at Granite State while still earning money at that job that isn't quite right? Courses are offered at night, on weekends, or totally on line for you to do whenever your schedule permits. You could take courses in early childhood or elementary education, math, or behavioral sciences, to name a few. Granite State offers assistance in planning for your future job. They can help you figure out what that perfect job might be, and what training you would need to get there. Granite State College offers affordable college study without giving up your present income. 

The job market is tough right now so if you are thinking of starting or changing a career, get the adult education services you need to guide you in that direction. Check out the courses offered at Granite State and beat that tight job market.

Classes are over! This was one of the harder terms that I have encountered here at Granite State College. New experiences and new ways of taking classes (example: 5 week online intensive class) doesn't always mean that it will make your life easier. On the flip side, taking a chance on a new way of taking classes could change the way you complete your program. I have never considered taking an English class online, however the online college English classes that are offered here are many, and the way they are set up seem to be pretty well constructed. Not to mention, I'm on my computer ALL the time so this is another excuse to take my computer everywhere :) 

I am relieved to be done with this term. That means I am that much closer to finishing my teacher training education! And...behavioral science. It's a day by day, step by step, class by class, week by week (etc, etc, etc...) in finishing my degrees. Some days it feels like it will never end, and at other times it feels like time is flying. Don't get me wrong: my adult education is a ride that I don't want to have pass by me, but I can be a little impatient...

For everyone who has finished their classes, congrats! 12 weeks is an accomplishment. You should feel very proud of yourself! 

Granite State College recently underwent a review of its teacher certification programs by the New Hampshire Department of Education Council for Teacher Education as a part of the process for gaining approval for several new certification programs the college has seeking to offer. The review process is an intensive one in which a review team spends a few days at the college reviewing all aspects of the certification programs. 

The Education Programs team at Granite State is highly focussed on quality and innovation and I was particularly pleased to read several commendations in the review teams site visit report. Some excerpts from the report truly highlight the great work being done at Granite State College:

"Granite State College Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program is to be commended for outstanding course and program design, which embodies the development and application of a standards-based, best practices curriculum."

"Granite State College Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program is to be commended for its extensive systematic process of assessment and evaluation of programs, teacher candidates, and faculty advisors."

In fact, there were five commendations in all and each speaks to the commitment to quality our education team has. I congratulated the Education Programs team on this recognition from the visiting team.

We had a great discussion the other night in my Child Development course.

Think for a moment about an infant. What adjectives would you use to describe a baby girl? What about a baby boy? Did you use the same words? Did you know that gender differences start right at birth with parents and others describing boys and girls differently? Research has found we use words like "sweet" and "petite" for girls and "strong" and "robust" for boys when describing infants. The discussion brought up lots of interesting things about gender differences. It was a fun discussion.

To participate in great discussions like this one, you should think about taking an Early Childhood Education course at Granite State College. There are many different Early Childhood, Teacher Training Education, Behavioral Science or Elementary Education courses to choose from, all with great discussions to get you thinking. And when you are picking course titles, think about whether they sound like courses traditionally for boys or girls.

What are you thankful for? We hear that phrase a lot each November. And people respond with things like family, friends, health. Those are all such important parts of our life. But sometimes we are also thankful for the opportunities we are given in life.

I have to say that in addition to my family and friends, I am thankful for the opportunity I have to teach Early Childhood and teacher training education courses at Granite State College at the Rochester NH college campus. I have met so many wonderful people at Granite State. College I have met students who are excited about their work with young children. I have met people who have been in the field of childhood education for many years, but need a course or two to maintain their professional position. I have met people who have had a career in business but have always wanted to teach.

One man comes to mind. He was nearing retirement in the business world but had always wanted to teach. He was working his way through a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. He has since graduated from Granite State College. He called me recently to tell me that he was now almost through a Master's Degree in Education. Another woman was pursuing a degree in Behavioral Sciences. She wanted to work with special needs children. Now she is in a position where she can impact the lives of young special needs children. Yes, when I think about the opportunity I have had to play a role in the further education of so many people who are now teaching young children, I am very thankful.

Did you read my last post about Online courses at Granite State College?

Did you think about how being an older adult, maybe this online adult education idea is not for you?

Well I have good news for you. I am an older adult. (Not that I like how that sounds!) And as an older adult involved in the Early Childhood and Teacher training education programs at Granite State College, I have found out that managing the online education system really isn't all that difficult. I have almost finished putting an entire course online. I have had excellent help from faculty at Granite State College and I have also used the online tutorials. I have overcome my fear of this new system for the younger adults and I actually am having fun mastering an online course. So I want to encourage you, if you are interested in an adult education diploma, or online college English classes or any form of online education courses at Granite State (and check out all the offerings) and you are an "older" adult, I am telling you that you can do it. Go for it! You will find that it is lots of fun.

 Have you ever thought about teacher training education? Have you wondered how people become teachers at the early childhood or elementary levels? Childhood education classes are what makes it possible for teachers to become teachers. If individuals do not take education classes they are likely to just copy what they saw in school themselves. So look back at your own learning career. You probably had some great teachers and some ordinary teachers. Unfortunately you may have had more ordinary teachers. Yet if you want to teach, you want to be one of the great teachers. And that doesn't just suddenly happen. You need to become involved in childhood education classes that challenge you to think and to expand your knowledge. You need to be equipped to change with the times. 
Classes at Granite State College make that possible. The classes are scheduled in the evenings so you can work during the day and expand your skills at night. You can enroll in just one class, at a local campus such as  Portsmouth NH classes or Rochester NH classes, or you can take online classes. 
Recently a student at Granite State College observed in an elementary school classroom and saw the teacher handing out worksheet packets while students got into trouble. She decided that the lesson was a good lesson until she was challenged in her evening class at Granite State to think about what could have been done differently to reach the many needs and learning styles in the classroom. Her thinking was challenged and with her classmates she discussed other options. Now and in the future her own students will have the benefit of her learning and experience. That thinking and reflecting is what makes ordinary teachers great.

Recently Harvard University announced that it was doing away with final exams. They stated that students do not really learning anything by taking final exams. They are better off showing what they know in projects, quizzes and hands on experiences.

This announcement raised an interesting discussion in the Early Childhood Assessment course at Granite State College, Rochester. Should students take final exams? The class members recounted their own experiences at Granite State College. They reported that in most classes in the Teacher Training Education department faculty relied on projects and papers to assess understanding. Most of the students had taken few final exams at Granite State College. They agreed that using projects and papers assessed their understanding of the material they were learning. They realized that final exams were appropriate in some courses but they felt that the faculty was responsive to the material being taught and they were happy that final exams were not always the only way to assess learning in the classes at Granite State College.  What is your opinion of final exams in college? 

A prospective student finished her accuplacer assessment and was anxious to know the results. The scores were not easily interpretable. At a quick glance, however, I noticed that the placement recommendation was for Contemporary College Math -- which is one of the required courses for a degree at Granite State College. I pointed this out to her and we both practically cheered because she was so pleased to discover that she knows more than she thought she knew! 

This particular student, let's call her Miranda, works in a local elementary school. While she enjoys her role as a para-educator, she really wants to pursue Teacher Training Education. As a former high school dropout, Miranda didn't think she was equipped to go to college, but once she attained her G.E.D., she realized that she was thirsty for more. She decided to apply to GSC, the New Hampshire State College that offers Affordable College Study, and she's eager to start her Childhood Education Courses this fall.

Miranda wants to work with children that have special needs. At GSC, she will pursue a B.S. in Individualized Studies: English Language Arts --  which will enable her to meet the federal Highly Qualified Teacher requirement, and the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification in General Special Education. The reason Miranda chose GSC, she told me, was because she could continue to work in her chosen field while taking Evening College Classes. I'm willing to bet that she will also find, as I have found, that taking classes with other adults of all ages provides a rich educational experience. GSC is the college in the University of New Hampshire System that specializes in Adult Higher Education. 

The excitement Miranda expressed -- when she saw evidence that her abilities are indeed college-level -- is one of the reasons I love working at Granite State College. It's such a great feeling to watch someone's face light up at the realization of their possibilities! Our students are so invested in their education, because many of them already have real-world experience, and they are incredibly motivated to do well in their studies. They want the most out of their education. And we at GSC are here to cheer them on!

I am fortunate enough this summer to be working as a mentor for a student interested in teacher education at Granite State College. She has been thinking about teaching and learning. She recently wrote a paper on critical thinking. Hmm.. you are saying.. so what?  What is that and why would it be something on a blog about adult college education?

Well, it is important because it is all about how you learn. Do you think when you have to read text books for an evening college course or you read the books late at night when you are hurrying to get to bed so you just highlight everything without really thinking about it? If you do, you may have just missed out on a great lifelong learning college experience. When we think about what we are reading and apply it to what we already know, then we remember the new information and can use it in the future. 

So while you are planning on taking courses at Granite State College this fall, also plan on really thinking about what you are reading and hearing in each course. The experience will be so much more meaningful for your career goals. 

I'm starting to feel like a 21st century Reader's Digest because I often discuss something interesting I've read.  You have probably heard of Reader's Digest but maybe aren't familiar with it, even though it's still going strong.  (Well, I don't know how strong it is, but it is still going.) Here's their logo... 

Anyhow, I digress, but what they have been known for is that they pull together a sampling of magazine articles that seem like they might be interesting to their reader base.  People have loved it over the years; people didn't have to subscribe to twenty magazines because Reader's Digest's editors checked out lots of magazines and published the "best"articles that they thought readers would like to read.  To give you a real inside scoop:  for decades it was a favorite magazine in the bathroom, craftily left in place on the back of the toilet for brief reading.

Well, here's where I was going:  Once again I've found a new, interesting article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/summer-must-read-for-kids-any-book/  It seems that kids from low-income families read "few, in any, books during the summer break from school."

But wait!  There's hope!!   "In a three-year study, researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, found that simply giving low-income children access to books at spring fairs — and allowing them to choose books that most interested them — had a significant effect on the summer reading gap."

Teacher education programs must be cheering this research.  And teacher education is a huge priority at Granite State College.  A teacher certification program is a popular one.   Here's a link to this popular program:  http://www.granite.edu/academics/teacher-education/

So maybe my little corner of Reader's Digest might just make its way from the bathroom to somebody's future!!

One week of working for Granite State College is under my belt, and boy am I exhausted.  I can truly commiserate with all of the students who are starting classes soon, even though most days I get to go home just as they are gearing up for class.  I have learned so much about the college, what it means to be an adult learner, the degree programs, adult education programs, tuition reimbursement, blah, blah, blah--the list goes on and on. 

Of course, when I say "learned" I mean I wrote a few notes, listened intensely, and then promptly forgot 90% of it as I moved on to the next thing.  In terms of remembering, I rely on the little bell that rings somewhere in the cobwebby back of my brain to reminds me that I've heard that somewhere before.  Then I have to push my brain to remember the details, usually as someone is talking to me as if I know what they're talking about, and I am trying to look as if I DO know what they're talking about until my brain saves me by finagling dragging up the information.  It is a tangled web, but it does work--sometimes. 

I have learned as a I grow older that it is OK to not know some things, to need a reminder, to require a hint or even just stop the conversation and back it up so I can get on board.
I always want to be the person with all the right answers, but this week I have found myself struggling to keep up with my teachers.  Luckily, I have good teachers and they have infinite amounts of patience (which I have yet to completely try) and are always available to answer my questions.  I am feeling like I am part of the Granite State group, a surprisingly good feeling.  I even called a prospective student and spoke to her about our degree programs and how she would fit in to the Granite State family, even though what I know about the college would fill a tea cup.  I was surprised at how well I did!  I was so worried about picking up the phone to call her, because I was sure she would ask me something to which I did know the answer.  After a few "ums" and "hmms" on my part, I talked to her and was answering her questions left and right.  I don't know if she will join us, but I know my teachers are doing a good job, and so am I.  I don't have all the right answers yet, but I'm not afraid to jump on the train and see where it takes me.

In 1990 I decided to enroll in College.  I was 30 years old, had two children, a mortgage and a full time job at a busy police department.  Even though I knew I needed to obtain a degree, I was really dreading it.  The only brick and mortar school in my area was the Berlin NH college, or as we called it, "The Vo-Tech".  This really wasn't a realistic option as the drive was too far, and the time commitment to large.  A friend of mine was involved in adult education services at our local high school and mentioned the night school they held there for adult learners.  Back then it was known as the College For Lifelong Learning.  My first thought was "how would they fit that title on a diploma?"  It didn't sound very enriching but it was the only real option if I wanted to get any level of career college training in my area.

I reluctantly went down to the local C.L.L. office and met some wonderful people.  I am guessing that Gail Paine and Beth Beyerle had met the likes of me before as they quickly stripped away all the preconceived obstacles I felt stood between me and a degree.  I was left with only one real option, jump in with both feet!  I can still remember how helpful they were in taking me from looking in from the outside to actually being a real college student.  

Back in 1990 our college offered a much more limited plate of degree choices and options.  Although a police officer, the school had no criminal justice classes to offer.  As far as delivery method you had the choice of face to face or face to face!  That's right Gen-xer's the Internet hadn't yet been applied to commercial use for distance learning universities.  I picked a degree that I though would help me in the higher ranks of police work.  It was a business offering called a Business and Professional Studies Degree, only offered at the Bachelor's level.  So here I was, signed up with the School For Lifelong Learning in a Business and Professional Studies Degree Program (like I said, imagine the size of the diploma!), and starring down the barrel of at least 6 years of school ahead of me.  So with great trepidation I walked into my first college classroom, at 6:00pm, in my old high school, with my old English teacher.  I thought to myself "was this really going to work?"

Next blog I'll discuss how GSC made the impossible possible for me!   

I want to post a thank you to a great class in the teacher training education program at Granite State College in Rochester. It was a great semester filled with lively conversation, great questions and some fun activities.

We started the semester in the Child Development class learning a little about our own learning and thinking styles. We watched some great videos on prenatal and infant development. We learned all about the way kids learn as they grow. But what really made the semester was the conversation. Members of the class shared their experiences with children of all ages. We learned a lot about growth and development from the stories classmates shared with us. And finally, we ended the semester with our own version of Jeopardy. The class members created great questions and a fun competition followed.

It was a great semester and I hope to see many of you again in future classes. Thanks for making it a great semester.

Are you an early childhood professional, a paraprofessional, or a classroom teacher about to be out for the summer? Have you thought about what you are going to do? Maybe you are going to sit on the beach and read a good book, or just sleep late and relax. Have you thought about taking a course at Granite State College? Maybe you are interested in furthering you teacher training education, or maybe you are just thinking about improving your skills or pursuing an area of interest with a fun course or two. Well, I may have an answer for you. Try an online college course at Granite State College, or maybe a classroom course in Portsmouth, or Rochester or Concord. So many choices. So don't just sit on the beach with any old book, instead get college credit for all that reading you will be doing anyway! See you in class!

 So you say to yourself what am I going to do sitting in a classroom at Granite State in childhood education classes or teacher training education classes all evening. Will the professor lecture all evening? Will there be anyone there to talk to? What if I fall asleep after working all day?

Well hopefully it will be better than you might imagine, after all, 4 hours is a long time to sit in a classroom after working all day. 

For me, classes need to be active, even in a class where there is a lot of material to cover. Imagine being part of a discussion about a new special education law, or trying to budget to build a new day care center. Think of pretending to be the parent of a child who is struggling in school, or the teacher who must tell the parent what is happening. Imagine trying to identify your own learning style and then meeting with others who have a similar learning style. Maybe you are working on a computer, or even watching a video of children in a play setting. 
Any of those things are possible in an childhood education classroom at Granite State College. Sure the teachers will need to lecture some of the evening, but you can be sure that with a full evening on class, it will not be 4 hours of straight listening. After all, I can't even talk for 4 hours even if you could stay awake that long.