[Digital image available]
TOMBALL, Texas –A group of preschool children ages three to four greet LSC-Tomball education students when they walk into the Waller ISD elementary school classroom. For many of the children, it’s the first time in a classroom. It’s also a new experience for the college students who, for the first time, are standing at the front of the classroom, as the teacher.
The college students, enrolled in the Associate of Arts Teaching (AAT) degree program at Lone Star College-Tomball, volunteered to participate in the six week long tutoring program, the result of a partnership between LSC-Tomball, Waller Independent School District and H-E-B.
“It's an extremely valuable opportunity for them to gain teaching experience with both students and parents,” said Caroline Jamroz, professor of education at LSC-Tomball. “When they get into their own classroom, they will know what it is like to have students looking to you as the expert.”
Overall, eleven AAT students volunteered and because both children and parents were involved, Jamroz says the program gave the college students a unique experience. “In this program, the students also get to talk to parents, that's not something they usually happens before becoming a classroom teacher.”
LSC-Tomball education student Nadia Fonseca says her first time leading a classroom was a special opportunity, “This was a rewarding experience to be able to teach young children and their parents a healthy way of spending time together from the kitchen to story time."
The tutors led the preschoolers through the Read 3 program, a curriculum developed and furnished by H-E-B, a long-time supporter of education in Texas. The Read 3 program targets preschoolers and their families to help build literacy, reading skills, English language skills, and improve kindergarten readiness. It also provides nutritional information to the parents.
“We believe that a good education is the basis for all success in life for every Texan,” said Christa Carreño Aldrich, H-E-B Area Community Coordinator, “and this is especially true of our youngest Texans.”
“Research proves that early childhood education is instrumental in giving children the foundation they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn and make it through the rest of their education with the possibility of great success. That’s why H-E-B created the Read 3 program that underscores the need for caregivers to read early and often to their children and have access to books,” Aldrich added.
The partnership that brought together the first-time teachers, the preschoolers and H-E-B’s Read 3 program started with Adela Cornejo, who is the Bilingual Community Relations & Communications Coordinator for Waller ISD.
She believes everyone benefited from the partnership: the children, their parents, and the future teachers.
“Families called back to thank us for the program because it helped their child feel comfortable in a school setting and helped build their literacy skills,” said Ms. Cornejo, “And LSC-Tomball had an opportunity for its education students to experience direct hands-on teaching with students and parents.”
“We are also very thankful that H-E-B offers this program and the tremendous support it gives to our schools,” she added, underscoring the Texas Company’s essential role in the educational partnership.
Prof Jamroz is delighted with the response to her students’ efforts and says that most of the students who taught this year are planning to volunteer again. The students told her that the experience gave them a much better understanding of how to prepare the curriculum and handle things in the classroom. Now, she said, they’re ready to do it again.
The Associate Arts of Teaching (AAT) degree plan is designed for those interested in learning and developing skills in the field of education. The LSC-Tomball degree plan satisfies the core requirements for baccalaureate programs at four-year institutions that lead to initial Texas teacher certification.
The key for students considering a career in education is planning ahead. The recommended first step is to meet with an advisor who helps prepare a degree plan. Additionally, LSC-Tomball has transfer agreements with dozens of colleges and universities across Texas. These transfer guides, 2 + 2 agreements, and equivalency guides outline the LSC courses that fulfill bachelor degree requirements at the institutions listed.
Lone Star College-Tomball is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway, at the intersection of SH 249 and Zion Road. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
###
LSC-Tomball education students got their first taste of teaching when they partnered with Waller ISD and HEB to tutor pre-kindergarteners. Pictured from left to right: Geneva Garcia, Irasema Becerra, Sherrell Banks, Lorena Romero. Not pictured: Nadia Fonseca, Ashley Martinez, Noemi Cabera
