Students from Northern Michigan University's School of Education recently traveled to Wisconsin to observe a variety of educational settings as part of a course-related field experience. The group was divided among three schools that represent a broad spectrum of student populations, offering NMU teacher candidates the opportunity to engage with diverse educational environments. They visited Danz Elementary School and Preble High School in Green Bay, and Syble Hopp School in nearby De Pere.
“The purpose of the trip is to expose our students to a variety of school and education settings that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to visit as part of the normal field experiences they have in a more rural setting here in the Upper Peninsula,” said Professor Alicia Gonzales.
Danz Elementary is a public school serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school offers a two-way English and Spanish approach designed to help students become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural. With more than half of its students identified as English language learners, Danz also provides free breakfast, lunch and dinner for all students, along with academic enrichment programs and special education services.
Preble High School is the largest high school in the Green Bay Area Public School District, serving students from Green Bay, Bellevue and New Franken.
Syble Hopp School, located in De Pere, serves students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The school is dedicated to meeting the unique educational needs of its student population.
The trip is connected to content in a course titled Teaching and Learning in the Elementary and Secondary School, and is now also incorporated into the Child and Adolescent Development course.
By immersing themselves in different school settings, students are encouraged to broaden their understanding of teaching and learning in diverse contexts.
“I think just seeing something outside of the realm of what we have experienced so far as part of our field engagements has been really meaningful,” Gonzales said.
The experience aims to expand pre-service teachers' perspectives and better prepare them to support all learners in inclusive and equitable classrooms.
“Students responded really positively. They really appreciated getting to see the students in all the environments. They seemed to have a lot of fun,” Gonzales said. “In particular, at Danz, to see the language immersion and the fluency students and teachers had in multiple languages as they went throughout their school day seemed really impactful.”
Student Riley Graser, who traveled to Danz Elementary School, said the trip was a valuable learning experience.
“I think it was beneficial to see a different school environment than what we're used to in the elementary schools in Marquette,” Graser said. “We got to interact with the students and observe the different teaching styles the teachers had.”
Student Kinsei Jahfetson, who traveled to Syble Hopp School, said the trip helped introduce students to alternative learning settings.
“I loved the school, and it had such a great sense of community,” Jahfetson said. “All of the children were very welcoming, as well as the teachers. I think it is very beneficial for students with special needs because they are around other children and can thrive in that school. I also think it's beneficial for us as observers to see the advantages. The School of Education does a very good job of bringing us to these different schools so we know how to interact in various settings with children from different backgrounds.”