Ed practicum class helps prep students for life as an educator

by Amanda Schrutt

There is a program at our school that you may not know that much about. This program is called Educational Practicum, or “Ed Practicum.” This program started about ten years ago with Mr. Brown and Mrs. Duvall. These two educators wanted to give students in the high school a chance to enter the classrooms of the elementary and junior high to let them have a glimpse of what it might be like to be a teacher. The program was created to give those students who wanted to become educators the opportunity to help the teachers and be around the students every day.

The program was offered to anyone in the high school. The students involved in the program would meet for the first three weeks and actually receive training before entering the classrooms. The students would learn adequate discipline, teaching techniques, and good behavioral methods to use around the kids. The high school students would then enter the classroom, and occasionally, Mrs. Duvall would come around and observe the students to be sure they were using proper techniques. The students would meet up once a week and discuss some of the things that they had observed from watching the kids.

The Ed Practicum class that Mr. Brown and Mrs. Duvall had started about ten years ago is still in affect. The new director of this program is PAS superintendent and elementary principal Mr. Shaw. He oversees the high school students to make sure they are doing what they should be to help the teachers. The program is open mostly just to seniors, but the occasional junior may participate. The class is one credit per semester and is graded as pass or fail. The program no longer entails receiving training before entering the classroom or meeting to discuss the students’ class once a week. PHS guidance counselor Mrs. Sanderson sets students up with a teacher to help throughout the year. The teacher that the student will help sets the student up with a planned schedule each day to have them perform certain tasks to help them out. The students that are receiving the help from the ed practicum students really enjoy having them around. It gives them more learning time and more individual help to help them better understand their studies.

All of the junior high and elementary teachers are involved with the program. The ed practicum students are able to be assigned to any of those teachers. The students involved in this class help the teachers with things such as passing out papers, reading with students, walking the students to another class, etc. “I feel like I am learning so much more about kids than I ever would have if I was not in this class. It’s really a great thing,” says senior ed practicum student Haley Stump. The senior students learn from this class and the experience gives them practice for the future. In such cases where a student may have had plans of becoming a teacher, this gives them practice and let’s them decide if teaching is right for them. “I really enjoy helping the kids. I plan on becoming a teacher and this experience has really given me a feel for teaching,” says senior ed practicum student Danielle Seabolt. The teachers really give the students a hands-on experience with the kids. The kids also really enjoy and appreciate the help of the ed practicum students.
Not only do the students enjoy having the ed practicum students come and help them, but the teachers enjoy it as well. “I love having the ed practicum students in my room. Having them here helps the students in my room receive more individualized help in areas where they may be having a hard time,” says first grade teacher Mrs. Winchel . As you can see, the ed practicum class is a major help here at Pittsford Area Schools. This program does not only benefit one person, it benefits everyone.