Juniors in the Academy of Careers in Education Pathway stepped into a new role as teachers.
Junior ACE students worked with third-graders from Terra Bella Elementary School and Alta Vista Elementary School on three different STEM labs. Terra Bella students visited Granite Hills on Feb. 20, and Alta Vista students visited on Feb. 25 to complete lessons in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Three teams of high school juniors were in charge of teaching STEM lessons to two different sets of third graders, giving them real classroom experiences and showing them what it’s actually like to lead younger students.
“It felt really special to build connections with them, especially since we only had a short time together,” ACE student Kayleen Rodriguez said. “Teaching them while also having fun was such a rewarding experience for both of us.”
The activities were made for third graders for a few important reasons. After choosing their projects, the juniors had to connect each one to an academic standard. The standards they selected were for third grade, so it made sense to teach that level. They wanted the lessons to match what the students were already learning in class.
Another reason was participation. In the past, ACE students worked with eighth graders, but they did not always take it seriously. Third graders are young enough to be excited and interested but mature enough to listen and stay focused.
The third graders did several fun activities.
One lab was about fossils. The students made their own fossils and then dug them up like real paleontologists.
Another lab focused on renewable and nonrenewable resources. The third graders learned the difference between the two and built small solar-powered cars.
A third group focused on pollution and how birds and bees have adapted over time to survive in changing environments.
“I feel that my students did an amazing job. They used Kagan’s strategies, kept the elementary students engaged, and even had them saying things like, ‘I love this place. I don’t want to leave.’ That shows how much hard work they put into their lessons,” said Mrs. Ramos.
Before teaching the third graders, ACE students spent time preparing their lessons. They picked an activity, found the correct third-grade standard, and created a full lesson plan. They made a slideshow, practiced the activity, and even taught the lesson to each other first.
They also learned how to support English Language Learners by adding extra help and making lessons easier to understand. After practicing, they made improvements to better fit the needs of the third graders.
“This experience helped prepare me to become a teacher,” ACE student Alejandro Puga said. “It taught me how to communicate better, be more patient, and understand that every student learns in a different way. I learned to be flexible with my lessons to meet their needs.”
The ACE Pathway is a four-year program at Granite Hills High School for students who want to become teachers or work in schools. It gives students real experiences by letting them practice teaching, work in teams, and even take college classes while still in high school. Some students can also get internships, including paid ones. The goal is to prepare future educators and leaders.
“Seeing my students out there teaching is the greatest reward for me. It motivates them to become future teachers, gives them a glimpse of what their future could be like, and it makes me so proud,” said Mrs. Ramos.
