While local elementary students were brushing up on their math, Lakeland's university transfer (UT) students were getting a taste of teaching before fulfilling their degree.

From October to November, Grade 2 to 7 students from St. Joseph Elementary School were treated to tutoring sessions from Lakeland's second-year UT students pursuing a bachelor of education degree.

“This experience gets us ready for when we have our classes to teach. It exposes us to the questions kids are going to ask and shows us what skills we're going to need to have for when we become teachers,” says Caylyn Cooper, who tutored Grade 2 students.

The math tutoring project is part of Lakeland instructor Mark Cryderman's math 160 higher arithmetic class,which teaches students foundations in math concepts taught in elementary and middle school.

Tanner Stanley, who tutored Grade 7 students, says he enjoyed helping the students reach their math goals. “Seeing the excitement on their faces is so worth it. I've enjoyed helping them realize their potential from understanding the question and their journey to the answer.”

Lakeland students visited St. Joseph once a week for a round-robin tutoring session. Each student received groups of four to five elementary students to tutor in 30-minute blocks.

Stanley adds it was an excellent opportunity to discover his teaching style and the grades he'd like to teach. “My goal was to work with Grade 3 students, but the opportunity to work with students in Grade 7 helped me realize that I enjoy working with the older kids. It's experiences like this that help you realize more about yourself.”

Photos: University transfer students tutor kids at St. Joseph Elementary School on Nov. 7.