Six Hawaii High Schools have each received a $200 Teaching as a Career Clubs/CTE Education Pathway Academy grant from the Hawaii Education Association/Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter.  Congratulations to Farrington High School, James Campbell High School, Leilehua High School, Maui High  School, Mililani High School, and Pearl City High School.

Farrington High School
Farrington High School seniors prepared an interactive reading lesson, called the Apron Story project, for  elementary school students. This work-based learning project fulfilled their requirement to serve as interns as a  teacher aide. Teacher cadets (seniors) choose a book that is age appropriate for their classroom, decorate an  apron with paint and accessories that match the story. The cadets also created prompts based on the book that  the elementary students attach to the apron as the story unfolds. Teacher Cadets learned how to turn a reading  session into an interactive class assignment where young learners are actively engaged in the reading process.  Cadets also learned how to deliver a reading lesson in front of real learners face to face in a work- based  learning environment. Cadets learned how to use creativity to turn any story or fairy tale into an interactive and  engaging lesson, and always returned from their assignment with big smiles on their faces.

James Campbell High School
Thanks to the HEA/Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter grant, the administrators and teachers of James Campbell High School were able to implement a number of activities this past year that allowed their students to gain firsthand experience as an educator.

The Teaching as a Profession classes and events for the school’s Educators Rising Club have deepened the students’ understanding of the profession through work-based learning activities at schools in the community. This past school year, the students visited Kaimiloa Elementary School and Seagull Schools at Ocean Pointe, a pre-school, to conduct read aloud activities and provide toys that were created for a project.

The education students and club members enjoyed their role as a teacher and realized the extensive amount of tasks involved in meeting the needs of more than 20 children at once, requiring problem-solving skills, creativity, and patience. They completed each visit with a greater respect for the teaching profession

In addition, Mia Aisha Fetalco, a fourth-year Teaching as a Profession student, coordinated an inaugural half-day workshop for 25 students aspiring to be educators. The theme of the workshop was “Empowerment in Education: Building Dynamic Educators,” and included speakers from the Hawaii Department of Education Office of Talent Management, Teach for America Hawaii, and University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Education to meet with the group and share opportunities in the field of education.

Leilehua High School
With their HEA grant, the Leilehua High School’s Foundations of Education class purchased supplies for the activities they designed for the Iliahi Elementary School kindergarteners. The students were able to read Dr. Seuss books to the children and accompany the book reading with a fun activity. One group read “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and had the children compete in a relay race fishing competition. It was a great learning opportunity for the education students. They enjoyed working with the children and learned that it is essential for them to create lesson plans that are detailed and also have a back-up plan in case the original plan does not work.

Maui High School
Maui High School used their HEA/Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter grant to take students to Pomaikai Elementary School and volunteer at the elementary school’s annual Fun Run. Students helped with obstacles in the morning, participated in their assembly, had lunch with the elementary students, and prepared and participated in the afternoon dance party.

“The Maui High School students were able to have authentic interactions with the elementary students. They also had the opportunity to see how much work goes into a school event. Our students were exhausted at the end of the day but they were thrilled about the impact they left,” said Rondy Arquero, Maui High School’s advisor. “I’m hoping that this event creates a lasting impact on the elementary students so when they come to Maui High School, they consider enrolling in the Education Pathway.”

Mililani High School
With the HEA/Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter grant, Mililani High School students pursuing teaching as a profession, were able to purchase supplies to hold activities for the Mililani High School Trojan Trading Post for a second year in a row. Education pathway students planned and organized weekend workshop activities for preschool to elementary school students.

Education pathway students created holiday workshops to make gratitude cards and ornaments and planned other activities. In the process, education pathway students learned how to plan an engaging activity and work with a variety of children.

“Students learned the importance of preparation and planning. In addition, they learned each week how to adjust and modify activities to engage community members,” said Stephanie Grande-Misaki, Mililani High School advisor. Students also learned to practice effective communication skills not only with each other and elementary school students, but with the business students and teacher who were running the Trojan Trading Post and the Mililani Town Center manager.”

Pearl City High School
Each year, the Foundations of Education class at Pearl City High School plans and executes crafting activities with the high school’s community-based instruction program for special education students. The students learn to develop and execute lesson plans, work with others, budget like a teacher and, most importantly, reflect on their teaching. The HEA/Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter grant is used to buy snacks and supplies to supplement the basic materials like construction paper, scissors, and glue.

“It’s really a great partnership because my students don’t feel judged when running their activities, the CBI students are just happy to participate because they don’t regularly interact with the general education population,” said Tammy Yoon, Pearl City High School advisor. “My students get the opportunity to work with a different group of students with their own challenges and gives them a chance to see different educational roles: teachers, EAs (educational assistant), and RBTs (registered behavioral technician).”