SIUE Early Childhood Teacher Candidates Complete Valuable Training as Classroom Opportunities Change
For many aspiring educators, student teaching offers an important test of their abilities and is an exciting step that further solidifies their passion. It’s their opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in a classroom filled with eager learners, with the safe oversight of experienced cooperating teachers.
But, with schools across the country moving to an online learning environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, those student teaching experiences have been disrupted, much to the disappointment of numerous teacher candidates. In response, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s Early Childhood Education program, quickly found ways to help teacher candidates continue to grow as early childhood professionals.
The program determined a valuable way to maintain growth and development was to offer the Pyramid Model for Social and Emotional Learning training program for all early childhood teacher candidates.
“Illinois has adopted the Pyramid Model for all preschool programs across the state, including Head Start, state-funded Preschool for All programs, early childhood special education and childcare,” said Elizabeth Sherwood, EdD, professor and graduate program director in the Department of Teaching and Learning. “Anyone who is hired to teach in one of these programs must complete the training. The fact that all of our students will graduate with the training completed will be an asset as they enter the workforce, whether in Illinois or in the 30 other states that use it.”
According to Sherwood, the Pyramid Model helps teachers develop a deeper understanding of children’s social and emotional development, and gives them useful strategies for preventing and managing challenging behavior.
“Students were saddened and frustrated at having to leave their student teaching placements,” she explained. “The Pyramid Model training gave them a valuable and meaningful way to continue to grow as early childhood professionals.”
Sherwood surveyed approximately 30 early childhood administrators across the region about the program’s value and its ease of use for students. “They loved the idea of being able to hire new teachers who understood this approach,” she said of survey respondents. “I thank Department of Teaching and Learning Chair Jessica Krim and all of the people along the purchasing chain that made this happen quickly, so our students would have ample time to complete the training.”
Early childhood major Megan Gugliotta, of Galesburg, appreciated the opportunity to add the Pyramid Model to her resume.
“The training is about social emotional learning, which is important to understand and teach as an educator,” Gugliotta said. “In your classroom, your students need to feel safe before any academic learning can happen. For students to be able to express how they feel helps them individually, and to interact with peers and adults. Actively doing this training will help me and my fellow educators leave a longer lasting impact in the classroom environment and on students.”
“I have seen students, like Megan, take this and run with it,” noted Tammy Walls, instructor and field supervisor for the early childhood education program. “Our students have been motivated and self-sufficient. Each individual has shown a high level of professionalism through this.”
“This training will help students be successful in their own classrooms this fall,” added Rebecca Armentrout, instructor and field supervisor for the early childhood education program. “The students have stayed positive and continued to work diligently through this unique time, while shifting from being in the classroom to remote learning.”
The Department of Teaching and Learning celebrated its graduates with a special virtual gathering on Tuesday, April 28. Early childhood education graduates will be among those honored during SIUE’s virtual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9.
Photo: SIUE early childhood education major Megan Gugliotta is among the students that completed the Pyramid Model for Social and Emotional Learning training program.
