Dixie Elementary Comes to Campus for UK Education Students' Final Exam

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2015) — While many University of Kentucky students are turning in a final exam or project this time of year, UK College of Education students taking the education curriculum methods course tested their skills by teaching Dixie Magnet Elementary School K-fourth graders.

Last week, 60 Dixie Magnet students visited Dickey Hall to learn about weather, the Commonwealth, Native Americans, U.S. government, patriotism, civil rights and more. But first, Dixie students were greeted by a group of UK cheerleaders, who read to them "The Polar Express."

"We just love visiting with the kids, and interacting with the community is a great part of the program,"  said Mercedes Laster, a UK cheerleader and senior education student.

Laster not only greeted Dixie Magnet students with her fellow cheerleaders, but also taught a fourth grade session on Kentucky regions. She said her experience on the team, and its involvement in the community, has given her the confidence to teach a class full of young learners.

Along with the rest of the EDC 393 students, Laster began preparing for Dixie's visit on the first day of this semester. UK students were tasked with planning intense literacy instruction while tying in math, science and social studies.  

"Instead of just turning it in, they're teaching it," Joni Meade, an EDC 393 instructor, said of her students' final exam. Lyuda Ivanyuk, Pam Seales and Associate Professor Mary Shake also teach sections of EDC 393.

For some, the day was not only a great teaching day, but also a chance to get to know children they will work with next semester as several will student teach at Dixie Magnet. And for Dixie Elementary children, they experienced what it was like to learn on a college campus. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu