Vol. 19, No. 2 - Winter 2003

Theory to practice:
a real-world classroom connection

Many urban students come to school without having had the enriching experiences that make them ready to achieve. “It rests on the shoulders of urban teachers to engage and motivate these diverse learners to succeed,” said Minneapolis superintendent Carol Johnson (M.A., ’80, curriculum and instruction; Ph.D., ’97, educational administration).

As a central part of the college’s mission to support urban education, the professional practice school partnership gives faculty and staff direct access to real-world classrooms where theory is put into practice, enhancing the college’s ability to prepare teacher licensure candidates for urban classrooms.

Patrick Henry benefits, too. “Our contact with the college’s faculty exposes us to the latest in educational thought and gets us thinking about practical applications,“ said Sara Van Der Werf, Henry math teacher and coordinator of the residency program. “Few teachers have access to the wealth of knowledge this connection brings us.”

Over the years, the college’s role in the program has expanded. A few years ago, Patty Thornton was hired as full-time coordinator to oversee the collaboration. Today Thornton co-teaches a credit course for resident teachers at Patrick Henry and Roosevelt high schools.

Through a close partnership with math education faculty, all postbaccalaureate math students do their six-week practicum at Henry and many do their student teaching there, with other content areas planning to do so in the future.

“When math students come to Henry for their practicum, it opens their eyes to the reality of urban schools—both positive and negative—and frames discussions about real-world education issues when they get back to the college,” said Van Der Werf.

In addition, English education professor Richard Beach works with teachers seeking National Board Certification to help them to evaluate and improve the immense amount of writing involved in the process.

“The connection with the faculty lets us create a professional community of teacher/learners from the very beginning of their careers forward,” says Johnson.