Special scholars helping special students
Jasmine Sledge
Issue date: 4/29/10 Section: News
UM students are putting their skills to use. Students in the Kinesiology Department are taking time out to volunteer at local schools surrounding the University of Montevallo.
Students from UM are assisting teachers at Thompson and Meadow View Elementary Schools in the special needs classes. Dr. Michael Nevett, UM Kinesiology Professor, requires each student from his Kinesiology 472 Adapted Physical Education class to volunteer. "Going out to the schools made sense where you take what you learned in the class and try to apply it a little, out with the kids, " said Nevett. Volunteering helps the students from UM have hands-on experience, and get a feel of working with disabled children.
The students come into the schools and choose a student to shadow and help them in an area of weakness. These areas can range from writing, jumping or even fine motor skills such as buttoning jackets and zipping zippers. Special Education teacher, Katherine Hern, utilizes the help from UM students. "One of the things we talked about with some of the students is like shoe tying, getting ready for the Special Olympics, with throwing and running," said Hern. "Another skill we talked about was fine motor with opening bags so they can be more self-sufficient with snack time and stuff like that."
UM student Robert Mitchell volunteers every Monday and Wednesday at Meadow View Elementary School. When he is there, he makes sure that tasks that seem simple are done correctly by students. "The pull-ups, we'll count how many they're doing and if a child is having difficulty doing something then we'll make sure that it is not because they don't understand something. You know, just to make sure it is to do with you know them not physically being able to do it or something," Mitchell said. The volunteer service that is being provided by the University of Montevallo helps the teachers when they do not have time to focus on a particular area with one designated student.
Volunteering is not just good experience for UM students, but it is good experience for the special needs students as well. They are able to learn new things in unique ways that they had problems with before. Students are able to feel more independent in the areas that they showed the most difficulty. Volunteering at these schools is more than just a grade to UM students, it's about changing the lives of others.
Students from UM are assisting teachers at Thompson and Meadow View Elementary Schools in the special needs classes. Dr. Michael Nevett, UM Kinesiology Professor, requires each student from his Kinesiology 472 Adapted Physical Education class to volunteer. "Going out to the schools made sense where you take what you learned in the class and try to apply it a little, out with the kids, " said Nevett. Volunteering helps the students from UM have hands-on experience, and get a feel of working with disabled children.
The students come into the schools and choose a student to shadow and help them in an area of weakness. These areas can range from writing, jumping or even fine motor skills such as buttoning jackets and zipping zippers. Special Education teacher, Katherine Hern, utilizes the help from UM students. "One of the things we talked about with some of the students is like shoe tying, getting ready for the Special Olympics, with throwing and running," said Hern. "Another skill we talked about was fine motor with opening bags so they can be more self-sufficient with snack time and stuff like that."
UM student Robert Mitchell volunteers every Monday and Wednesday at Meadow View Elementary School. When he is there, he makes sure that tasks that seem simple are done correctly by students. "The pull-ups, we'll count how many they're doing and if a child is having difficulty doing something then we'll make sure that it is not because they don't understand something. You know, just to make sure it is to do with you know them not physically being able to do it or something," Mitchell said. The volunteer service that is being provided by the University of Montevallo helps the teachers when they do not have time to focus on a particular area with one designated student.
Volunteering is not just good experience for UM students, but it is good experience for the special needs students as well. They are able to learn new things in unique ways that they had problems with before. Students are able to feel more independent in the areas that they showed the most difficulty. Volunteering at these schools is more than just a grade to UM students, it's about changing the lives of others.
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