 |
Economists in the Schools |
||||||
|
|||||||
|
Economists in the Schools |
||||||
|
|||||||
|
Frequently Asked Questions from Teachers How can I involve my school with EIS? Frequently Asked Questions from Students What are the benefits of participating?
" I was placed with and Advanced Placement high school class in a more middle-class part of the city. Those students were pretty on par with the principles students we have here at Trinity, so my understanding of the topic was really challenged. Because the students had such a great understanding of the topic, my group and I tended more to focus on applications, particularly real-life examples, of the topics that they were learning in class. Because we were relatively close to their ages, I felt like it was easier to engage them and find examples that were pertinent and made sense to them. Overall, it was a really rewarding, and challenging, experience. "
"Economics was not one of my strengths but taking Economists in the Schools really helped solidify for me some of the basic economic concepts. When you teach a subject (especially to middle schoolers) you have to think in so many different ways because the students all think in different ways. You have to be able to explain a concept so that everyone in the class can grasp it. And for middle school, that can be quite the task! But it's really helpful to put yourself in that child's head and try to look at a concept the way they see it. You come away with a much better understanding of economics and an appreciation for what teachers do on a daily basis!" ---Niki Sandifer, Education
" I really felt that this program was a great experience for those interested in pursuing teaching as a career. It gives you the opportunity to practice both planning lessons and implementing them in the classroom. Also, It is structured so that you are constantly getting feedback about both planning and teaching; helping you grow as a future educator. While economics is often not a focus in elementary curriculum, the lessons can be integrated into other subject areas and still help to broaden a future teacher's content knowledge. I know that as a teacher-in-training I truly value all the experience, including Economists in the Schools, I had in elementary classrooms during my undergraduate studies." ---Ashley Evans, Graduate Student in Education
"This program is truly amazing for Trinity students, teachers, and students it impacts. It is providing an invaluable resource to the San Antonio community. The E.I.S program was my first time in front of a classroom teaching. I enjoyed seeing the light-bulb go on in the children's heads when they engaged with the concepts. The coolest thing about what they were learning is that they could see the concepts all around them. The beauty of the program is that it creates awareness that Economics is all around us and provides students the tools necessary to understand it." ---Michelle Hahn, Economics
"This program provides a low cost way for Trinity students to experience teaching. For some that is a life altering opportunity. It also provides a needed service for area elementary, middle school and high school students. " ---Dr. John Huston, Professor and Chair of Economics
"….....the purpose is to make economics real and fun, not pedantic. The (Trinity) team humanizes economics
and shows how it can be useful to the students."
|
 |
|
|
How can I involve my school with EIS? Check out the contacts page for information on who to contact.
Your students will be excited and engaged in the concepts presented. Our past experience shows that they will connect with the concepts and retain the ideas. Elementary teachers have told us they can ask their students about economic concepts many weeks after they have been taught and still recieve correct responses. 8th grade Middle School teachers have said they can tell which students participated in the program in 7th grade, and high schools have compared exam results with the class that was in the program and a class that was not - the results of the EIS class were significantly better! The biggest thing you will have to do is open your classroom up to us for the time period. You will also be responsible for class-room discipline while the team is there. The only other thing you will have to do is provide feedback after the team's performance.
What are the benefits of participating? There are many benefits of participating in this program. You will attain a greater understanding of economic reasoning, "You have to master something in order to teach it." The program will enhance your communication and presentation skills You will appreciate and experience the rewards of teaching.
no, this program is open to all majors. But you do need to have a background. To teach elementary or middle school lessons, you need to have taken Principles of Microeconomics. To teach highschool lessons, you must also have taken Principles of Macroeconomics. Your grade will be based on the final copies of your lesson, a review from the teachers, and a review from your team.
This is a one- hour course, so the time commitment is appropriate for this credit. Of course, the big time commitment is the time in the classroom teaching the lessons. You will also have rehearsal time with either a faculty advisor or a student advisor. The rest of the time commitment is the team's lesson preperation time.
|