PRESQUE ISLE — Physical Education students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle are getting hands-on experience leading gym classes while serving the needs of a local group of home schoolers.
As part of a teaching practicum, seniors Matt Petrie and Scott Clenchy are offering once a week physical education classes at the State Road Advent Christian Church to about 50 home schooled students between pre-K and high school who are part of the home schooling group Parents of Aroostook Teaching at Home [PATH].
According to Dr. Chris Standefer, a professor of physical education who is overseeing the practicum, the university students are doing a fabulous job with their teaching and the home schooling kids absolutely love the experience.
“One of the little boys in the class thought it was cool to have college guys working with him,” Standefer said.
Petrie and Clenchy are earning three college credits for their practicum work, which can be described as a min-student teaching experience. As Standefer pointed out, though, the practicum is far more than just two hours a week of teaching. The students are creating lesson plans, reflecting on their experiences, and being evaluated along the way.
Standefer said projects like this help emphasize to students both the importance of
community service and learning in a real-world situation.
“The more times I can get my students out in the community working with children rather than working with peers, the better and more comfortable they’re going to be doing their student teaching,” Standefer said.
As for the home schooled kids, they’re getting the chance to meet with other home schoolers and have physical education “teachers” devoted to their learning experience.
“It works out so well,” Tania Baldwin, a member of the PATH board of directors, said. “The guys are so good with the kids and the kids really react to how the guys treat them. The kids really look forward to gym time because they have so much fun with them.”
Baldwin’s husband Vince initially contacted Standefer last spring asking about the possibility of having phys ed students provide a gym class for local home schoolers. The group already was devoting time once a week to cooperative learning activities, such as group Spanish, music and art classes. Gym time used to be basically a playtime at the recreation center, Baldwin said, so parents are pleased with the university partnership.
“For those families that don’t have their kids involved in recreation programs or other physical activities, this is a great opportunity to give their children a gym time,” she said.
Project organization began in mid-August and Petrie and Clenchy offered the first class on Sept. 10. They will continue offering their Monday classes throughout the fall semester.
Standefer is hoping her students will be able to do similar projects in the future.
“We want to be able to do these kinds of things that benefit local children and at the same time provide meaningful experiences for our students,” Standefer said.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
SOCCER PRACTICE- Ben Burgess and Colin Miller under direction of Matt Petrie and Scott Clency during P.E. lessons.
