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GRCC's Education Department has programs focusing on Child Development, Paraprofessional, and Pre-professional Elementary and Secondary education. Teachers in
the Education department and in education courses throughout the college are all very excited about sharing our passion for teaching in the classroom, teacher education seminars, and other learning opportunities here at GRCC. If you are interested in participating in educational programs throughout the community while you are at GRCC, there are labs included in many Child Development courses, reading tutoring in the CD 260 Emergent Literacy class, and academic service learning opportunities tied to a number of classes in a variety of disciplines. Please be sure to stop by our offices to learn more about these opportunities.

Other news in the Education Department:

• In partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools and the David D. Hunting Downtown YMCA, the department received a $4.5 million Early Reading First grant. This grant focuses on creating Centers of Early Childhood Educational Excellence at five sites in Grand Rapids that serve four year old children who may be “at risk” of school failure. Through the grant, preschool teachers will receive targeted professional development experiences and coaching in their own classrooms to enable them to immerse children in research based early literacy activities.
• The Child Development Program became the first program in Michigan to receive national Accreditation through the National Association of the Education of Young Children Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation process. The program was accredited for 7 years with no conditions. The three main areas of strength cited were Faculty Excellence, Administrative Support and High quality Lab sites at both the GRCC Lab Preschool and in the community.
• Twelve Teachers of Tomorrow Scholarships were awarded to prospective teachers here at GRCC.

Finally, if you are looking for further inspiration related to teaching, check out the best selling book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. Mortenson
writes: “It is my vision that we all will dedicate the next decade to achieve universal literacy and education for all children, especially for girls.” His story highlights the importance of education and the difference one person can make.

Yours in Teaching,

Rebecca Brinks

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Updated on 20-MAY-09
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