Ani Alimazyan
Crimson Chronicle Reporter
Leora Riley, TCA Child Development teacher is taking her senior class on a field trip twice a month to Gardner Elementary School so her students can get the face-to-face experience of working with children.
Every student is assigned to a partner, they either read a book to the class, or go out on the field and interact with the children. The principal of Gardner Elementary assigns the books to the readers and the rest of the seniors go outside and play with the children. When the seniors enter the classrooms, all the children get excited to see them.
“I feel that the kids feel excited to see us, as we are much older than them. I have had a few of them ask questions as they are excited to go to high school too,” said Jeremy Patten.
Every reader is assigned to a different book, classroom, and grade level with their partners. This allows the seniors to get a really good experience of what it’s like to work with children. The rest of the seniors working with the children on the field help with any conflicts they might be having.
Riley checks up on her students in each different classroom. The children are paying close attention to the seniors and engaging with whatever activity they are doing. “I notice the patience, level of maturity and how focused and engaged my students are while interacting with the children,” she said.
Working on the field with children is a whole other experience. “The children love spending time with us and look up to us as role models. We bring new game ideas to them every time we visit, and also do what they like,” said Sona Stepanyan.
Riley was pleased with the program. “I think this face-to-face experience of working with children is going to help my senior students in the future because it’s a start of a meaningful hands-on and rewarding work experience for them to possess,” she said.