Today’s Tennessean (Williamson A.M. zoned section) highlights the Belmont University Education Department and its effort to get student teachers into the classroom sooner, to enhance their learning with real-world experience.
College students studying education usually do not get into an actual classroom until they student teach during their final semester, but a cooperation between Belmont University and local schools is changing that. Belmont is now offering its teaching methods class at Walnut Grove Elementary, Brentwood Middle and several Metro Nashville schools. The idea is to teach education students about classroom management and teaching methods while they have a chance to actually see those skills in action in real classrooms.
”It’s a benefit to (the college students) because they are putting things into practice sooner and it’s a benefit to our students because there are more adults in class,” said Walnut Grove Principal Jay Jordan.
Melinda Grimac coordinates the program for Belmont and also teaches classroom management. ”It’s a wonderful way to link theory and practice,” Grimac said. ”With theory-based instruction, (Students) have the option of seeing that in the process, in action, in these classrooms.”
