Student Involvement

Practicum and Observation Site
One of the functions of the Children's Center is to serve as a training and observation site for WCU students. Students, fulfilling practicum requirements in the Childhood Studies and Reading department, observe and interact with the children in a classroom setting. They are responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating an individual or group activity.

In addition, the Center serves as a site for clinical placement for University nursing students. The students are responsible for planning and implementing health education activities with small groups of children. The placement also involves physical and developmental assessment by the student nurses.

The Center has served as a field placement site for Social Work students. The student has responsibility inside and outside the classroom environment, including the development and implementation of child and parent education programs, classroom observations, and client evaluations. A student enrolled in Introduction to Social Work may fulfill their volunteer placement in the classroom or office setting.

Outside of the Classroom
The children participate in a weekly Music Education program. A faculty member within the School of Music oversees the University students as they instruct the children in rhythm, singing and movement. Students are responsible for designing and teaching lessons involving musical techniques that they are currently exploring in their course work. This provides for immediate hands-on opportunities for the student.
The Department of Kinesiology in conjunction with the faculty from Physical Education and Special Education have designed a Preschool Movement Program. Involving students from these field of study, the program is designed to allow these future professionals the opportunity to observe, interact and teach children with and without special needs. Again, the University has provided an environment for students to gain on-hands experience in their specific majors.

Classroom Volunteers
Do you have an hour or two to spare? Come to the Center and become involved in interacting with the children by reading, playing one-on-one, helping at the Computer station or assisting with art exploration. These are a few ways that University students may gain some first hand knowledge of child development and behaviors.

New Program Development
The Center staff is currently developing and implementing a program with the Foreign Languages Department to bring Spanish into the preschool classroom. Students may read stories written in Spanish to the children or translate books to tape in Spanish. This is another new program about which the staff and children are excited.