Monday, November 15, 2010

Education students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington have served as tutors this fall for 51 K-4 students at Snipes Academy of Art & Design, helping them further develop their skills in math and language arts. On Wednesday, Nov. 17, the UNCW tutors will host the Snipes students, their teachers and Principal Laura Jennings for a celebration of their accomplishments. The event will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. in the atrium of the Education Building.
 
Media are invited to attend and cover this event. Visual opportunities include interactions between the Snipes students and their college tutors, a hands-on art project activity for the kids, and a hip hop song and dance routine performed by the UNCW education students. Interviews will also be available.

Watson School of Education professors Candace Thompson and Susan Catapano developed this service project for a special combined section of two courses they’re teaching, one an introductory course in teacher education and the other focused on educational psychology. The purpose of the tutoring project was to provide support to an underserved elementary school while offering the 25 UNCW students a rich experience with a diverse student population.

“Our students created a real learning community with the elementary students,” said Thompson. “They see the Snipes students as ‘our kids.’ They are getting a very personalized vision of what teaching can be, and learning first-hand how to bridge differences to effectively teach all kids.”

The gathering on campus will be a celebration of the UNCW students and their journeys to become teachers, Thompson said, as well as recognition to the Snipes students for the hard work they’ve been doing with their tutors.

“We’re celebrating community engagement,” said Thompson. “The university is partnering with schools in unique ways to make a positive difference for kids while providing meaningful teaching opportunities for our students.”

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu