91¾«Ñ¡

The Elementary Education Studies major provides a valuable alternative to the Elementary Education major for those seeking a career in education but not necessarily as a licensed teacher.

Both traditional and Adult Studies students at 91¾«Ñ¡ take advantage of this program and have experienced incredible benefits from the service-learning aspect of the curriculum. Although students do not receive state licensure, they do acquire abundant teaching experience through the coursework, which requires 80 hours of service-learning in educational environments.

The service-learning experience that students gain can help them recognize their calling to teach or may lead them in another direction within the field of education. In a recent course evaluation, students shared overwhelmingly positive feelings about the program and a new perspective on service by the end of the service-learning course.

Some of the students have been able to engage educational work in unique and personal ways. Jacqueline Isom-Walk partnered with her church in Ford Heights, Illinois to begin an after-school program that grew to serve 12 students. Inspired to grow the services she established, Walk applied for and was awarded a grant to continue the work even beyond the course requirement.

Others 91¾«Ñ¡ students have worked in Kindergarten classrooms, after school programs, and with organizations such as the Head Start Program.

“This class was one of the most beneficial courses I took at 91¾«Ñ¡,” said Elena Rodriguez. “Taking the service learning course allowed me to not only collaborate with a teacher, but to actually impact the children and to overcome obstacles that occur in the classroom.”

For the fifth semester in a row, students enrolled in the spring service learning course will be challenged, will experience growth, and will recognize the multitude of opportunities available in the field of education outside a traditional classroom setting.