By: Mrs. Nancy Hanley

​Anderson University freshman Teaching Fellows were delighted to have Mrs. Sarah Gams, the South Carolina Teacher of the Year, as well as Mr. Todd Scholl, mindfulness advocate, visit on March 15, 2021, to assist and lead in our bi-annual professional development session. Teaching Fellows set aside the afternoon to bond with their cohort, as well as to grow as individuals and future educators. Mrs. Gams, former English teacher at Spring Hill High School (and a fantastic one, as well!), presented on the importance of Social-Emotional Learning. Connecting to your students as people, not just learners, and ensuring they all are aware of their potential for success are crucial for creating an inclusive and encouraging classroom environment. Mr. Scholl presented on the importance of making time for rest and to de-stress as a busy teacher in order to address the needs of all students. He taught us some techniques such as breathing exercises and being aware of how our actions can affect others. The freshman cohort is incredibly thankful for the professional development and time to join together.

​By: Dr. Tim Lintner

​USC Aiken Teaching Fellows Skyla Watson and Deanna McCord presented original research at the annual Scholars Showcase. Both Special Education majors, Skyla’s research was titled Selective Mutism while Deanna’s research was titled Exploring Disssociative Disorder in Schools. Scholars Showcase highlights multidisciplinary original research from across the USC Aiken campus. The School of Education at USC Aiken is extremely proud of both Skyla and Deanna!

By: Dr. Tim Lintner

The University of South Carolina Aiken is pleased to announce that Teaching Fellow Karli Overton has been selected to serve as a Chancellor’s Ambassador for the 2021-2020 school year. The most prestigious student leadership position on campus, Chancellor’s Ambassadors represent the Office of the Chancellor at both on and off campus events. Karli is the fifth USC Aiken Teaching Fellow to have been awarded this coveted and prestigious position. Congratulations Karli!

By Dr. Timothy Lintner

The USC Aiken Teaching Fellows were proud to “welcome back” six former Fellows – Alex Kinard, Angelika Davis, Darius Ross, Christa Hipps, Eleanor Powell and Catherine Pullan. These former Fellows shared tips, strategies and some pretty interesting stories about the importance of getting to know your students and building relationships with them. It was wonderful to have these amazing educators back on campus sharing their experiences and insights with our current Fellows.

Submitted by Elizabeth Brown, TF Vice President of Engagement , Coastal Carolina University

Our Coastal Carolina University Teaching Fellows Program is always striving to give back to our community. This year, we are able to support children in the local community by offering free virtual tutoring. The Community Outreach Committee in our program has been working hard on this Virtual Tutoring Program in hopes that our Fellows will be able to help these children who are struggling with school right now. This experience allows our Fellows to learn the importance of helping children while also allows them the opportunity to learn more about teaching. We hope that we can positively impact these children and our local community through this new Virtual Tutoring Program! 

​Anderson University Leadership Conference:
Because of COVID-19, the Anderson University Teaching Fellows Leadership Team had a ZOOM session in May to discuss our 2020-2021 Teaching Fellows events.  After this session, we continued to meet over the span of two days at the beginning of the fall 2020 semester in order to revisit the year's events and our mission statement. On the first day, participants broke into three groups and had a lot fun creating team names and (COVID-safe) "handshakes" before we settled down to work on our mission statement. After a productive second day reviewing the year’s events, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and congenial conversation at Tucker’s Restaurant. Head over to the AU Teaching Fellow website to check out our new mission statement!
Emma Thronsen

By Darcie Goodwin
First Reported in The College Today

Exploration, discovery, discussions and research are all key components of the College of Charleston’s First Year Experience (FYE) program, which is designed to fully integrate new students into the academic and cultural community of the College. FYE usually includes activities outside the classroom, and although the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for the fall 2020 semester, faculty still found ways to connect students with learning opportunities beyond their books.

“During the pandemic first-year students have faced many more obstacles than normal to finding ways to make new friends and interact with one another,” says Sarah Owens, director of the First Year Experience program and professor of Hispanic Studies. “FYE professors have made an extra effort to help students get excited about their course content while providing a semblance of normalcy. I’m proud of the myriad of extra opportunities we have offered our students this semester. Watching the stars with your astronomy professor or attending a local comedy night with your tourism class can very well be the highlight of a student’s first year here at the College of Charleston.”

Through her Teaching Fellows FYE seminar, Associate Professor of teacher education Tracey Hunter-Doniger aimed to show teaching fellows — students who have chosen education as their major and profession and will go on to teach in the State of South Carolina — what culturally responsive teaching looks like in the classroom.

“Culturally responsive teaching is a mindset and way of teaching, which requires that the teacher recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning,” explains Hunter-Doniger. “It’s not a bag of tricks, but a way of teaching and caring about the students — who they are and where they come from.”

Part of that mindset includes learning how to make outings a classroom experience. They walked to the S.C. Aquarium and the Charleston Museum, where they learned how to incorporate these locations into their future curriculum and how to make it relevant to their future students.

Because the teaching fellows couldn’t visit the schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they wanted to do something impactful. Led by students Lily Kruft and Emily O’Toole, the class received a Center for Partnership to Improve Education grant from the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. With the grant, they purchased culturally responsive books from a local bookstore, which they donated to four local elementary schools.

The teaching fellows took their donation one step further by providing videos of them reading the 32 books. They felt this would be a great resource for the educators teaching online. In addition to sharing the videos with the schools that received the books, the teaching fellows passed it on to other CofC education graduates.

“I am so proud of them,” says Hunter-Doniger of her 15 teaching fellows. “They really worked hard to reach out to the students, and the children were thrilled that college students took the time to read to them.”

And those real-life, hands-on experiences are what the FYE program is all about.

“Even before the pandemic, the out-of-the-classroom experience was one of the hallmarks of the First Year Experience program,” says Ownes. “Students thrive on interactions with their peers and professors, and when you can combine that with an excursion to a local museum or a dinner and a play, the combination is like gold.”

​Goodwin, D. (2020, December 18). First Year Experience Offers Students Lessons Outside the Classroom. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://today.cofc.edu/2020/12/14/first-year-experience-offers-students-lessons-outside-the-classroom/

By DR. TIMOTHY LINTNER

The USC Aiken Teaching Fellows were honored to have Misty McConnell, Aiken County Teacher of the Year, share her passion, her wisdom, and her “real world, first-year survival guide.” From adversity to accolades, Misty’s story is one of struggle, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to reach and teach every student who walks into her classroom. We are thankful that she shared time with the Fellows – on her birthday nonetheless! She will be speaking to the USC Aiken Fellows during the spring semester about “Leading in a Time of Change.”

By DR. TIMOTHY LINTNER

BY DR. TIMOTHY LINTNER

​You are the heir apparent to a Scottish fortune. Your grandfather, the clan’s patriarch, is found murdered. You are the prime suspect. Yet as you attempt to prove your innocence, dark shadows seek to conspire against you. From this backdrop of intrigue riddled with familial jealousy and revenge, the USC Aiken Freshman Teaching Fellows entered Murder Mansion. The Fellows were tasked with uncovering the clues to who REALLY committed the murder all before the Scottish Constables arrive to surely arrest their most likely suspect. With collaboration, communication, and a few “we need a hint, please,” (begged for by their campus director), the Fellows solved the case with a slim five minutes to spare!