"Reciprocal Relationships" Benefits to Yearlong Immersive Programs in Urban Schools

• In Event: Field Experiences and Community Engagement

Abstract

In order to help create teachers who are culturally responsive and successful working in urban environments with diverse populations, our university offers an urban immersive program, in which students participate in an intensive practicum in an urban district during their final semester of courses, followed by a semester of student teaching at the same school. This allows students to not only teach in urban schools but to also live within the school neighborhood. We conducted research to determine the effectiveness of our program in preparing students to teach in urban environments. We determined that the year-long nature of the program allowed students time to build relationships that led them to have a desire to continue to teach in urban settings.

Authors

• Veronica M. Fife-Demski, Ball State University
  Presenting Author

• Kirsten Robbins, SUNY - College at Oneonta
  Presenting Author

• Jerry Woodward, Ball State University
  Presenting Author