Students learn by teaching

Eleven pairs of eyes stared at sophomore Trent Whaley as he explained his science station at Pleasant Crossing Elementary School. Whaley, along with other Franklin students, called the brand new elementary school in Whiteland their workplace for winter term.

Whaley’s mentor, first-grade teacher Monica Lemon, said Whaley made the transition to the new building easier for the young students.

First grader Alexis Knippenberg said Whaley was a very helpful teacher and she would miss him.
Knippenberg and her classmates surprised Whaley with a special gift on his last day.

“We got him a special cookie that says ‘Good Luck Mr. Whaley,’” she said.

Lemon said a student teacher allows her to expand what she can do in the classroom. She said Whaley was able to work individually with students and help with homework questions and work in small groups with her classroom.

Science stations were one of the activities Franklin students helped out with. The entire first-grade class rotated to different stations for activities based on principles they learned in science class.
Whaley’s station was among the messiest.
At his station, he instructed the group to blow bubbles that were colored with food dye with straws onto paper. Echoes of “Cool” and “Look at this,” rang out around the room as students switched cups of bubbles and tried to out-do their peers. Occasionally, however, a cup would spill and a look a dread would come over a student’s face.
According to Education Professor Cindy Prather, who along with Education Professor Sherri Hall is in charge of placements, 84 Franklin students taught at 23 local schools. Prather said they were placed in classrooms that were grades kindergarten through high school.

Whaley said that this experience was helpful because it proved that he could teach younger students. Originally, Whaley came to Franklin to teach either high school or middle school, but said that this experience made him receptive to teaching younger grades.

Lemon said she believed Whaley will make a great teacher in the future.

“At first he was reluctant; he wasn’t for sure about the little ones and then after the first day he was like a natural. He read a story to them, he’s just really good with higher-level questions and really good at interacting in the stories.”

Seven other prospective teachers joined Whaley at Pleasant Crossing.

Junior Kaleb Kerr taught in a third-grade class at a new school. Though Kerr did this teaching experience before, this was the first time his classroom’s teacher was male.

Kerr said last month’s experience was beneficial because it showed him first-hand how a male teacher works in the classroom.

Pleasant Crossing Principal Terry Magnuson aid he has always appreciated the type of students that come and teach from Franklin.

He said few colleges have student-teaching programs support programs like the one at Franklin

“I’ve been very familiar with the Franklin College program. The experiential component they have for their learning is outstanding,” Magnuson said.

He said a main benefit for Franklin students is they usually have a variety of educational experience at different schools and different levels.

Lemon said she supports the Franklin program.

She said, “I always have Franklin College students if I am able to.”