Students spend time at elementaries learning the art of early childhood education

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photo or infographic by courtesy photos

HELPING HANDS. A member of Mrs. Horne’s child development class helps paint a bookshelf at AR Turner. The group now goes to Roark Elementary School this semester to help with students at the school .

Mrs. Horne’s child guidance class started up a new internship program. They go to Roark Elementary School and help the teachers with whatever they need. The kids enjoy their help and love making bonds with them, almost as much as the high schoolers.

“I actually love working with the special education kids,” senior Ava Semler said. “You start to understand why they act the way they do because they can’t express themselves like others can.”

Semler always tries to make the best out of every situation with the kids.

“I love going to see them because they all look forward to seeing me when I go over there,” Semler said.

Child development teacher Dena Horne is very excited for the first year interns.

“It’s our first year at Roark,” Horne said. “This class is focused on early child education so its perfect. Mrs. Louis loves having them and enjoys the extra help.”

The students are not only helping the kids, but also the teachers. Before Roark, the class helped at AR Turner Elementary. 

“They came to the first 15 days of school and helped three days in the literacy library,” AR Turner instructional coach DeAnna Murrell said. “I know they helped fill in the counselor’s office, also.” 

While the kids are at hard work, Murrell gets to watch the kids develop connections with students.

“Teachers check books and games out from the literacy library to help with classroom instruction-Guided Reading, Read Alouds, Shared Reading, and literacy stations,” Murrell said.

Even though the class is very small, everyone is loving the experience.

“This class is called learning child guidance and early childhood,” Horne said. “Several students are learning patience and are wanting to do it as a career.”

The internship is even opening new career opportunities so many of the students. 

“This class made me realize what I want to do, and that is to teach special education,” Semler said.