Events
March is Reading Month | Introduction to Japanese | Michigan Teacher of the Year | Associate Teaching Banquet | LEGO Camp | Seeds of Science / Roots of Reading

March is Reading Month

Dr. Milner read Bruiser goes to College to the Blissfield Preschool Cooperative Nursery, Inc.

Introduction to Japanse

The Institute for Education and the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures is collaborating in providing an Introduction to Japanese class for accelerated students from surrounding school districts in Lenawee County. Dr. Andrea R. Milner and Dr. Bryan Bott are facilitating the class. Three Adrian College students; Jamie Besier, Kristin Johnson, and Tim Rotarius, are teaching the class. Class started on February 18th and will run every Saturday concluding on April 7th.

Jamie Besier provided an in-depth synopsis of the first class: “The first class was fantastic. I think all three of us were a little surprised at just how well things went. The students are so excited to learn! They are also very practical. When we asked them what they wanted to learn about Japan, they said government, laws and travel information. A group of future leaders to be sure. While we hope to expose them to these things at least a little, I think we would primarily like to give them a taste of Japanese culture. Kristin, Tim and I have discussed exposing them things such as Japanese food and we would also like to give them a chance to explore things from Japan. Having visited Japan, Kristin and I have accumulated items from shrines and souvenirs and we would like to share these “artifacts” with the students. At the culmination of this program, I would like to see the students having a basic understanding of Japanese language, but also a glimpse of Japanese life.“

Michigan Teacher of the Year
On Wednesday, November 16th, the Institute for Education had the great honor of hosting Matinga Ragatz, Michigan Teacher of the Year 2010/2011, as our guest speaker. Ms. Ragatz  spent the day at Adrian College and spoke in our Teacher Education classes. She spoke about issues, solutions, best practices in teaching, and the continuation of her own education as a 21st Century educator.

Ms. Ragatz teaches social studies and World Language at Grand Ledge High School. Ms. Ragatz has immersed herself in culture and has been taking her students abroad in learning about different customs. Most recently she and her students have been visiting eastern Asia and she is preparing to travel to Tunisia.

She is the founder and Project Management Director of Interface Global Alliance.  Interface Global Alliance is a non-profit that helps deprived communities that are in need of economic improvement. Ms. Ragatz continues to be a global traveler promoting education and her mission with the Interface Global Alliance.

Currently Ms. Ragatz is developing a variety of learning models to help students with their core education as well as improving their skills. Please take a few moments to visit her website. http://matinga.com/

Banquet held to honor Associate Teachers
By Emily Cutler
Contributing Writer

The Associate Teaching Banquet took place Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Adrian-Tobias Room. This program was co-sponsored by the Teacher Education Department and the Institute for Education as a means to recognize and thank the student teachers along with their supervisors.

“We just want to say thank you,” said the department chair of teacher education, Marcie Brown. “Every year we do an associate teaching banquet.”

There are 22 student teachers this semester, and there will be about 18 seniors next semester. The seniors are placed in numerous school systems around the Adrian area and work under a supervising teacher at that school.

“I like to come in every year to say thank you to the supervisors,” said President Jeffrey Docking at the event. “[Teaching is] a noble cause and a noble profession.”

The program consisted of not only a dinner for the guests, but also featured speaker Nate Parker (‘98), the current principal of Adrian middle school.

“Teaching is not just a career, it’s a calling,” said Parker during his speech. “God knows we need good teachers right now.” Parker’s presentation was entitled “My Heroes have Always Been Teachers,” and discussed the importance of quality teachers in the education system.

“The key to a great school… is the same as it always has been and always will be—outstanding teachers,” he said. “Anybody can teach the top tier students. Great teachers can teach them all.”

Senior Emilia Ertz begins her student teaching at Onsted high school in January. This semester she is observing the classes. She said the banquet was a great way to get to know the supervising teachers on a more personal level outside of the classroom. It was also an effective way to show appreciation to the supervisors. “The banquet made me really excited for student teaching,” she said.

Ertz was also impressed by the speech that Parker gave. “I thought he was very inspirational,” she said. “It was nice to know he is an AC graduate and has gone so far in the education field.”

During the event Parker also emphasized the significance, as teachers, to motivate and encourage students. “Your job is to care, to challenge and to inspire,” he said. “Most importantly as a teacher, your job is to inspire.”

Three alumni of AC were also recognized at the program for demonstrating the Ribbons of Excellence and carrying out the mission of teacher education. These alumni included Parker ('98), Christopher Timmis (‘96) and Mary Betzoldt (‘68).

“I think it’s really nice to give awards,” said Ertz. However, Ertz also noted that while these teachers deserve to be recognized, there are many teachers who go unrecognized for their dedication.

Parker concluded his speech by stressing the importance of teachers to continually work towards helping their students however possible. “[Students] don’t just need good teachers,” he said. “They need heroes. You are it. Don’t let them down.”

Notable Alumni Mrs. Mary Betzoldt (‘68) with Institute for Education Director Dr. Andrea R. Milner.

Adrian College’s Institute for Education offered a summer camp, July 11-15, for youth in first through eighth grade through the All About Learning LEGO series.
Students actively engaged in utilizing unique LEGO® kits to build a variety of battling machines and creatively build and modify machines through basic engineering skills. This was a class of exploration, problem solving, and risk-taking with a goal of learning and experimenting with how machines work and compete. Students learned a variety of concepts throughout this class, including basic engineering principles, gearing and gear ratios, electric motors and energy, problem solving, and communication skills.

“The Adrian College Institute for Education, in partnership with All About Learning, Inc., is thrilled to offer the opportunity for our young students in grades 1-8 to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) content through the use of LEGO® kits.” Dr. Andrea R. Milner, Director of the Institute for Education stated. “This is one of many educational opportunities the Institute for Education will provide our local and campus communities.”

The Adrian College Institute for Education, in partnership with the Adrian Public Schools, offered a summer school program from June 20-30, 2011 for students going into the 5th grade.

Students participated in quality inquiry-based integrated science and reading curriculum and instruction consistent with local, state, and national recommendations so that they may receive opportunities to become proficient in science content and reading literacy. Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading is a curriculum that integrates science and literacy to provide access to deep science knowledge, academic vocabulary, and powerful skills and strategies in both literacy and science (SSRR: http://www.scienceandliteracy.org, 2011).

“The Adrian College Institute for Education is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Adrian Public Schools through this program which is committed to enhancing student's science content and literacy skills,” stated Dr. Andrea R. Milner, Director of the Institute for Education.

"The students and teachers of Adrian are very fortunate to have the caring professionals at Adrian College offering these opportunities,” responded Chris Timmis, Ed.D., Superintendent of Adrian Public Schools.