In their session, “The Media Center is for Math, Too!,” they shared ways in which media specialists in the PreK-12 setting can collaborate with math teachers to enhance mathematical reasoning across the content areas.

Hone and Bryan discussed possible lessons for all grade levels, programming opportunities such as a Pi Day celebration, and print and non-print resources that are useful in a media center setting. At 黑料不打烊, Hone and Bryan strive to use collaboration and cross-content integration as a model for their students, who, as preservice teachers can leverage a similar collaborative practice in their internships.

Bryan presented an additional session entitled, “DIY StoryWalk” at the same conference. StoryWalks were developed by Angela Hammond in Vermont as a way to engage students in literature in a variety of settings. In the session, media specialists learned how to make a portable StoryWalk, which could be used in a variety of locations and allows for interchanging books. They also dove into benefits of movement, mindfulness, and being outdoors while learning.

The Curriculum Resources Center has a StoryWalk using the book, “Good Morning,Yoga” written by Miriam Gates and illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder which is available for students, faculty, staff, and local educators to borrow.

At Speaker’s Corner on Tuesday, Sept. 26, individuals read from highly regarded books which have been challenged or banned. Allison Bryan, director of the Curriculum Resources Center, read from “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey, a popular series which has been challenged due to rude language and partial nudity. Julie Justice, assistant professor of education, read “King and King” by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland. This fractured fairy tale has been challenged for encouraging homosexuality.

Virginia Little, junior middle grades social studies major, read from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling, which has been challenged for promoting witchcraft. Lesley Henry, director of education outreach, read “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, a well-known picture book challenged for its portrayal of supernatural ideas.

Molly Kearns, junior elementary and special education major, read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, which has been challenged for sexist themes and for criticizing the forestry industry. Finally, Mirella Cisneros, junior middle grades math major, finished the readings with an excerpt from “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a text widely read by adolescents and challenged for sexual and racial themes.

According to the American Library Association, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from U.S. schools and libraries each year. Although often the books remain available, Banned Books Week is an opportunity to oppose censorship and celebrate our freedom to read.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Curriculum Resources Center partnered with Belk Library to celebrate Banned Books Week at College Coffee where members of the 黑料不打烊 community could take a picture with a challenged book and enter a drawing to win a banned book. 

Fifteen Boy Scouts from the area came to campus to work on Communication, Sustainability, Physical Fitness, and Personal Management merit badges. The classes were taught by Andrew VanHoof ‘17 and Glenn Kleinschmidt ‘19 (Physical Fitness); Ashley Jacks ‘18 and Sara Smythe ‘19 (Personal Management); Morgan Fleming ’18 and Robert Feather ‘19 (Sustainability); and Julia Gerstenfeld ’19 (Communication).  

Jayna Coyle ‘17 worked with Allison Bryan, director of the Curriculum Resources Center, to coordinate the day, and Shayna Nash ‘17 volunteered. The Boy Scouts and 黑料不打烊 students alike learned a lot and enjoyed the time together.

Several of the Scouts shared an interest in coming to another Merit Badge College at 黑料不打烊 again soon. We hope that this will be the beginning of a regular opportunity for our community!

Hinton spent the morning visiting Hillcrest Elementary School in Burlington and Peacehaven Farm in Whitsett with Jessica Wery, assistant professor of education, and Mark Enfield, associate professor of education. When she returned to campus, Hinton led a lunch discussion with the faculty and staff of the School of Education. There was interesting and lively conversation around the activities and innovations at the Brooke School, as well as the broader topic of special education policy and teaching in the United Kingdom. 

To conclude her day, Hinton spoke with several classes in the School of Education – Professor Tina Brinkley’s Foundations of Special Education class and the capstone classes of Enfield and Marna Winter, lecturer in education and chair of the Department of Education. In these classes, Hinton shared about the statutory process for student assessment, the debate in the United Kingdom around inclusion vs. segregation of students with special needs, public vs. privately funded opportunities, supplemental services and barriers to learning. 

Discussions of the similarities and differences in Special Education in the United Kingdom and the United States challenged 黑料不打烊 School of Education students to consider global perspectives on special education.

The entire School of Education is grateful for the opportunity to share with and learn from such a gifted educator; special appreciation goes out to Jessica Wery and Mark Enfield for organizing this wonderful visit.

As a member of this advisory panel, Bullock will help provide direction for the implementation of the new teacher education state policy. This policy will require teacher education programs to adopt a performance-based assessment.

The edTPA performance-based assessment gives teacher preparation programs access to a multiple-measure assessment system aligned to state and national standards, including Common Core State Standards and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium. Bullock is a national trainer for edTPA and a selected member of the edTPA National Academy through Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Evaluation (SCALE) at Stanford University. 

Molly Sweeny is a senior Education major from Matthews, N.C. 黑料不打烊’s education program was one of the strongest she had investigated, and after visiting 黑料不打烊, Sweeny knew she wanted to be a student here. In her school placements, Sweeny enjoys working with children, and like most teachers, loves to see a child grasp a concept or make progress. She is already applying for teaching positions for when she graduates. Professor Marna Winter, who chairs the Education Department, escorted Molly during half time of the Homecoming football game.

Shelby Allen is a human service studies major and minoring in teaching and learning.  Like Sweeny and others, Allen fell in love with 黑料不打烊’s campus, people, and opportunities.  She also has family ties, including an uncle who graduated from 黑料不打烊. When she graduates, Allen plans to work as a school counselor, and the background she has gained from her coursework in the teaching and learning minor will certainly benefit and inform her work.

We are so proud of Molly Sweeny and Shelby Allen for their nominations to Homecoming Court and for representing the School of Education so well!

Harrison has worked in the field of education for more than 40 years and acknowledged how difficult yet beneficial redistricting can be. During his presentation in the, Harrison explained the major issue within this school district: schools are overpopulated, but still continue to accept more and more students each year. Harrison, along with the rest of ABSS, is working to begin the process of redistricting in order to focus on making choices that will benefit students in the long run rather than maintaining the status quo.

The driving argument behind the push for redrawing district lines is the desire to make ABSS schools reflect the socio-economic diversity of Alamance County, which would ideally lead to equal access to different programs and courses, regardless of a student’s attendance zone. With the proposed plan, Williams High School will be implementing a new International Baccalaureate program, Graham High School will become a skilled trades academy, and Cummings High School will be repurposed into a school for the arts for students in grades 6-12.

The educational community outside of the university is especially important to current students in the School of Education as many of them complete practicum experiences and student teach in the district. The issues and questions surrounding redistricting are just as important to the faculty, who need to ensure that their students are prepared for their experiences. Having Harrison available to speak to some of these issues and answer so many questions was a wonderful opportunity for all who attended.

Some may not know that the School of Education prepares students for more than just classroom teaching. Undergraduate students can major in early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education and special education. 

The  also offers initial licensure in secondary (9-12) ,  ,  and . K-12 initial licensure is offered in  and  through teacher licensure majors in the , and K-12 licensure program in  is offered through a major in the 

Students have the opportunity to earn minors in teaching & learning, early childhood education, coaching, outdoor education, adventure-based learning, and health & wellness.  Each of these minors is a meaningful addition to a variety of majors in education as well as other areas. The School of Education also offers master’s degrees in education. 

If you are interested in pursuing one of the versatile degrees or minors or if you’d like to learn more, please visit the