College of Education Newsletter

As September unfolds its autumn colors with the excitement of the new academic year, we find ourselves continuing our dedication to the noblest profession of education. The beginning of the new academic year always brings a sense of renewal and transformation. For many of our students (both graduate and undergraduate) their college degree will change the trajectory of their lives and that of their successive family trees. Degrees can serve as a pivotal life chapter that sets students on a personal and professional path of growth, social engagement, learning, leadership, and financial independence. Lifelong learning and friendships forged on college campuses have the potential to sustain us in good times and hard times. I want to take another opportunity to thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your unwavering commitment to the art and science of teaching and learning. I look forward to the academic year ahead, and I am excited to witness the incredible achievements we will accomplish together.

-Dean Vicki Groves-Scott

Dr. Stefanie Sorbet's (Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) ELSE 4309 class created their own Hoodie representative of their personalities, families, backgrounds, customs, hobbies and more as part of a discussion on diverse learners within the elementary classroom. Students were able to create their own hoodie from a template in Blackboard that was uploaded to their iPads. Students used the drawing tool and their Apple Pencil to personalize their hoodie and added color, images, decorations, and quotes that represented their true self to share in class. Dr. Sorbet provided a link for them in an email and they were then able to share their hoodies using the link to the Freeform app. This app allowed students to post their hoodie to the classroom Freeform board that was posted on the classroom projector screen and students were then able to share aloud about themselves and their hoodies. This interactive activity incorporated social and emotional learning, building relationships within a classroom, technology, and embracing diverse learners in the classroom population. This was a great way for Dr. Sorbet to get to know her students, peers to get to know each other, and to model best practices for pre-service teachers to incorporate such activities within their own elementary classroom.

Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education Junior block interns, along with Mrs. Amber Brantley, Mrs. Dee Dee Cain, and Dr. Stefanie Sorbet, were definitely the “lunch bunch”! During lunchtime they all gathered in room 120 and read the children’s book We are a Family, made teacher friendship bracelets, and spent time hanging out and building community.

These junior block interns are ready to go to their field placement this week and meet their students and mentor teacher.

Ms. Catherine Miller's (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) Science Education classes have adopted a hands-on approach to teaching students about the fundamental concepts of chemical and physical changes. Instead of the traditional textbook-based learning, students get to roll up their sleeves and cook up pancakes.

The concept behind this unique educational method is simple: By observing the changes that occur during the pancake-making process, students can grasp core scientific principles with ease. As they mix batter, watch it bubble on the griddle, and witness the transformation from liquid to solid, they are effectively exploring concepts such as states of matter, heat transfer, chemical reactions, and more.

So, the next time you enjoy a stack of pancakes, remember that beneath that delicious surface lies a world of scientific wonders waiting to be discovered.

Internship Supervisors in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education (ELSE) held their initial meeting on Wednesday, August 30, to prepare for supervising their awesome interns! They enjoyed some treats and shared a few stories together. ELSE is so grateful for these Supervisors who continue to travel across Arkansas and provide on-going support to our students in their field placement. We cannot do this without them all!!!!!

Pictured are (Back Row) Dr. TK Anderson, Tracie Rushing, Dr. Deanna Rice, Dr. Brandy Walthall, Jennifer Sherrod, Kim Wickcliffe, Tina Cope, Dee Dee Cain (SPED Program Coordinator), Jamie Dallas, Dr. Stefanie Sorbet (K6 program coordinator), and Ashley Wilson. (Front Row) Sherri Pelot and Shari McGehee. Not pictured: Patti Hunter.

Kaitlyn Hartman, UCA Middle Level Education major, was recently featured in the Log Cabin Democrat. Kaitlyn is completing her Internship II at St. Joseph Middle School in Conway. Her classroom observing teacher is Mrs. Cara Pizzolatto, a graduate of UCA's MAT program.

https://www.thecabin.net/news/student-teacher-makes-impact-at-st-joseph/article_544dfd2a-72b6-5b07-aa5f-0acb7ebb1058.html?fbclid=IwAR0JECQF4rq-U6EQJtxM6AlV5bJRir9zXVSKE9Kq2QUbe6AVbfrAownfdcU

Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi , Dr. Allison Freed, Dr. Shoudong Feng, Stephanie Best (all from the Department of Leadership Studies) and Leticia de la Garza (Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership) recently presented at ArATE (Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators).

Dr. Oyeniyi and Dr Feng presented Counseling Students Affected by ACE with Quality Children's Literature. Dr. Freed, Dr. Oyeniyi, Ms. de la Garza, and Ms. Best presented Teacher Moments.

ArATE was held Friday, September 15, at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

http://www.arkansasate.org/conferences.html

Missed an issue? You can view past issues of the COE Newsletter by going to https://uca.edu/education/coenewsletter/.