Thanks to a trio of dedicated Mount Saint Mary College teacher candidates, local children are enjoying educational fun in the sun this summer at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.
Shelby Tibbs of New Windsor, N.Y. and Addison Parker of Newburgh, N.Y. are teaching the Play, Learn, and Grow (PL&G) class at the armory for local Pre-K and kindergarten learners. In addition, Lindsay Byer of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. is teaching a summer iPad course for these young students.
PL&G, a 12-week enrichment course held on Saturday mornings, features exciting summer-themed activities such as beach day, pool day, and seashell day. The course focuses on teaching numbers, letters, and essential classroom skills like proper use of scissors and glue.
Parker and Tibbs teach three separate PL&G sessions, with about 15 students each. Two classes are for preschool students and the last is for students moving up from preschool to kindergarten.
Mount Education professors Janine Bixler and Rebecca Norman were impressed with Tibbs's skill as an educator and asked if she would teach the PL&G classes. Tibbs then asked Parker, her good friend and fellow Mount Education student, to co-teach with her.
Tibbs said she was "excited to be a part of this opportunity to help my community, gain more knowledge on teaching, and have this special experience to further prepare me to become an educator."
Spearheading the PL&G program at the Newburgh Armory is giving the Mount duo a sneak peek at their future career, explained Tibbs.
"This started off by showing me the work that really goes into planning," she said. "Although it was tough, it truly was so much fun and so eye opening. As teachers, we are going to have lots and lots of plans...also, you learn [that things] are not always going to go as planned, so have some back up and learn to think quickly on your toes!"
Parker added, "This is something that definitely gets me more comfortable and confident in my teaching skills."
Thanks to their Mount education, Parker and Tibbs both felt prepared for the challenge.
"Dr. Bixler and Dr. Norman have been so helpful with our lessons each week in giving great advice on how to alter our plans to perfection," said Parker.
Tibbs shared Parker's sentiment: "In each of the Education courses, I learned something that I used while teaching and creating these courses," she said. "Creating lesson plans in class, having experiences – even during COVID – to work with kids and teach our short lessons...has been so helpful. The professors really prepare you in the best possible way.
The program is as rewarding for the two Mount Education students as it is for the children, Tibbs noted.
"Helping Pre-K kids and teaching this class makes me feel whole," she said. "That's the best word I can use to describe it. Being able to help my community and be a part of these young students' learning...is very important to me. Although very young, I know [they] are our future. I hope these students grow up and become the change that we want to see in the world."
As Tibbs and Parker work to instill a love of reading and numbers in their young students, Byer is helping the Pre-K and kindergarten children to get acquainted with important technology. Byer's iPad Literacy course teaches the basics of touch screen operation, proper equipment usage, and more through group activities.
Byer has worked with Tibbs and Parker to integrate the content of the two courses, so the children learn iPad usage by practicing writing and using preselected apps to increase their math and literacy skills.
"Technology is in our classrooms now more than ever," said Byer. "College students aren't the only ones who take virtual classes anymore. Children should know how to use these devices so they can confidently focus on learning content, rather than having technology as a roadblock."
The experience has been worthwhile both academically and personally, Byer said.
"Participating in this program helps me to feel more confident standing in front of the classroom," explained Byer. "I am also gaining experience talking with parents and students on my own. I am gaining the very helpful skill of thinking on my feet."
She added, "Helping Pre-K and kindergarten students and seeing their smiling faces when they understand a concept or can do an activity by themselves is the most rewarding part of teaching for me. I love knowing I am helping a young student find joy in learning."