TEACHING TEACHERS: A WORTHWILE ENDEAVOR

For the past two summers (2015 – 2016), Fresno State’s Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences has partnered with the Math and Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI) in Fresno State’s Kremen School of Education, and After School University (ASU) to create a unique summer program for future K­8 teachers. The experience included a one­week pedagogy­intensive workshop with a culminating field trip. In the subsequent weeks, participants developed lesson plans and delivered the material to 5th grade ASU students. In the third year (2017), funding had ceased for the ASU program, and MSTI did not have funds to supplement the program. Although it seemed bleak, determination to provide this opportunity prevailed. In 2015, students received a stipend and tuition waived. In 2016, students received a tuition waiver, but no stipend. There was concern that students would not sign up without the incentives, however, due to word of mouth, the class was the largest to date. The next hurdle was to provide children for the pre-service teachers to teach lessons. Discovering that the After School University program was not funded caused some panic. The key to the summer program is the opportunity to teach lessons in a classroom setting. The best solution was to hold a summer Geology Camp, but there was very little time to organize the camp. Luckily, the campus was hosting a Summer Youth Technology Institute and we were able to send out flyers to the participants of that camp. Being somewhat “desperate” for children, the call was made to accept any age and to offer the camp free of charge. We ended up with 40 students ages 4 ½ to 13. They were divided into two groups, K-3^rd grade and 4^th – 7^th grades. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences provided funding for supplies to help the camp run. Despite a great deal of scrambling, and what first felt like a failed program, the class was a great success. Pre- and post-tests indicate a great deal of learning took place. The program proved to be successful from multiple standpoints: course evaluations, student teacher evaluations, and Geology Camp parent feedback. The future of this program appears quite bright with the possibility of expanding in the future.