Several times a year the Baltimore Sun features an education-themed section, and in its Nov. 5 edition, Megan Madigan Peercy, an associate professor in the College of Education’s Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, discussed the training and preparation for UMD student-teachers preparing to work with English language learners in two articles, “Population shifts reflected on campus: Colleges are embracing diversity and advocating for students,” and “Students Explore A Diverse Course Load.” Both appear on page 5 of the special section.
The student-teachers take coursework that covers literacy development, cross-cultural communication and policy issues that affect students, she said.
They also find support through Dr. Peercy’s Voices from the Field group, where student-teachers and recent alumni of COE’s TESOL program can conduct research, participate in a support group for reflection and engage in professional development.
“As we did that work together, we also developed into what the teachers have called a ‘safe space’ for them to bring their teaching dilemmas and challenges, and to continue to be connected to their program and to other alumni as they figure out how to do the hard work of teaching students who are often under-resourced and marginalized. In that way, we’ve also become a support group and a venue for professional development – in both formal and informal ways,” Peercy said to the Baltimore Sun.
