Finding Fourth Grade Fantastic

Jul 06, 2010

Education professor Dr. Barb Witteman left her Concordia classroom for another one last year. She spent her time teaching fourth-graders at Kennedy Elementary in Fargo.
witteman

"I think it's really important for educators in professional fields to go back and see if what they're teaching their students at the collegiate level is really needed by them to know," she said.

As a teacher and mentor for future elementary teachers at Concordia, she said it was an invaluable learning experience.

"I'm going to change a lot of what I teach, to make it more relevant based on my experience here," Witteman said.

In addition to teaching the standard curriculum, Witteman also had her students participate in service projects for The Salvation Army in their classroom as well as on site.

"We've actually made three rotations down to The Salvation Army where the kids either served meals, worked in the personal care room, or did other projects," she said. "It's been perfect for them."

Witteman said the experience with her class is not one she will forget. Kennedy Elementary principal Maggie Mitzel said the bond Witteman and her students shared was evident.

"I know Barb has touched the lives of the children in her classroom," she said. "I think it's been a great experience for all of them."

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