Education students teach tots to have fun

MU teacher education majors hosted elementary school students from Gate of Heaven School, Dallas, at the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library for a morning of fun, interactive learning exercises as part of the Methods in Early Childhood Education course at Misericordia.

The junior-level course prepares early childhood education majors to identify, develop and use a variety of materials and methods, including educational technology, that are unique to early childhood education. During the course, students are required to develop and present demonstration lessons to their classmates, including lessons that integrate content and technology.

Under the direction of Sister Pat McCann, RSM, Ed.D., associate professor of teacher education, and Misericordia students, Gate of Heaven students did a variety of exercises that were designed to teach them about history, the environment, spelling, reading and other subjects.

“It provides them an opportunity to interact with elementary school children,’’ said Sister McCann, “and allows them to be creative in developing projects that are student-centered activities, while incorporating developmentally appropriate practices. This day also provides an opportunity for the Gate of Heaven children to come to the big school and experience a day on a college campus — so it benefits both our students and our guests.’’

The MU Division of Behavioral Science, Education and Business, and its Teacher Education Department feature undergraduate majors in elementary education, special education and in five areas of secondary education — biology, chemistry, citizenship, English and mathematics. In combination with its elementary education major, the teacher education department also has a certification program in early childhood education. The faculty has developed an integrated program combines elementary and special education.

At the graduate level, the teacher education department has programs in elementary education, educational technology specialist and supervisor of curriculum and instruction.

For more information about the Teacher Education Department, please log on to

or call Susan Tomascik, Ph.D., department co-chair, at (570) 674-6290 or e-mail her at

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