The weekend was in clear view for Brittany Carrigan and Cheryl Pettry on Friday afternoon, but the two education students at 每日大赛 weren鈥檛 looking forward to their weekend. It was Monday morning, being back in their student teaching classrooms, that had them excited.
The students were two of about 100 individuals to attend the college鈥檚 Literacy Forum Friday, where guest speaker Patricia Edwards, a professor from Michigan State University and former president of the International Reading Association, led a day-long workshop centered on the importance of reading, as well as parental involvement, to a child鈥檚 overall well-being.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting so many great ideas and tips,鈥� Carrigan said of the conference. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to try some of these new ideas out on our students.鈥�
Pettry agreed, noting she, too, was eager to try some of the new tactics out on parents, especially those who are not as active in their child鈥檚 education as they should be.
鈥淲e all understand that parents are busy and some work two or three jobs to make ends meet. But a child鈥檚 success in school is dependent on this circle of a teacher, the parent and the student,鈥� Pettry said. 鈥淲hen one element is missing, the circle is broken.
鈥漌hat we鈥檙e learning here will be vital to helping us create that complete circle to create a solid foundation of learning for these children.鈥�
The conference, organized by Rob Reigner, associate professor of reading/language arts education and teacher preparation at 每日大赛, was assembled to help students connect with experts in the academic field and provide advanced tips for successful teaching, as well as expose them to resources that will help create a blossoming classroom.
During the one-day conference, Edwards was joined by three fellow education professionals for a panel discussion. On stage with Edwards for the panel portion of the event was Anita Beasley, president-elect of the Georgia Reading Association and a learning support specialist for Jackson Elementary School in Butts County; Sheree Bryant, executive director of the Georgia Reading Association and a student teacher supervisors at Mercer and Gordon State universities; and Beth Pendergraft, president of the Georgia Reading Association and associate professor at Georgia Regents University.
The panelists explained to the audience, made up of students, education professionals, parents and the general public, the significance of connecting the community and parents with the classroom.
鈥淗ome, the community and the school must all be on the same page,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淭hat means parents, civic groups, area businesses, churches and community leaders are all encouraging parents to connect with the school. The more involved a community is, the more involved a parent will be.
鈥淧arental involvement is key to successful education. It all begins at home.鈥�
It is essential, said panel member Beasley, for teachers to look beyond the walls of their rooms and schools and really examine the community in which their center of learning is placed.
鈥淵ou have to step outside the classroom,鈥� Beasley said. 鈥淚t is easy to forget there is a world out there. You have to step outside the classroom and look at a student鈥檚 home, their home life and the world in which they live. Only then can you understand how they will deal with a classroom and with learning.鈥�
The Brunswick News
ANNA HALL