SUNY Geneseo and MMCSD have maintained a long-standing partnership that brings education students into our classrooms each year as part of their teacher preparation coursework. Multiple professors at SUNY Geneseo collaborated to create these hands-on experiences, which give future educators meaningful time in real classrooms while supporting instruction across MMCSD.
At the elementary level, fifteen SUNY Geneseo students, three per classroom, worked with grades 3 and 4 from October 9th through November 13th. These students are two semesters away from student teaching and spent full days assisting teachers, engaging with students, and teaching lessons under the guidance of their professors and MMCSD staff.
“This has been a wonderful collaboration with the college. It’s a great opportunity to help prepare teachers for the future while supporting our classrooms with future educators,” said Principal Dean.
Ms. Fisher added, “The students came in every Thursday for six weeks. On the first day, they observed and interacted with the students, and then they created their own lessons based on our current topics. They have used songs, basketballs, hands-on science experiments, and books to help students learn in fun and meaningful ways.”
One memorable elementary lesson focused on hurricanes and tornadoes. The college students used interactive demonstrations to help children understand extreme weather and how it forms.
At the high school, SUNY Geneseo education majors visit twice each fall and twice each spring. When they arrive, they meet with Principal Hamilton in the auditorium for a welcome and Q&A session, followed by a guided tour of the building. Throughout the day, they observe classes in Science, Social Studies, Math, and ELA, giving them a broad look at instructional practices at the secondary level.
“It’s always a pleasure hosting the SUNY Geneseo education students. We cherish our relationship with SUNY Geneseo and will support the future educators as they go into the world of teaching,” said Principal Hamilton.
During a recent high school visit, Mr. Gardner invited the college students to teach lessons in Philosophy and Global Studies, providing them with practical teaching experience while exposing MMCSD students to new ideas and perspectives.
The partnership with SUNY Geneseo has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved, offering future educators valuable preparation while enriching learning throughout MMCSD.
