Summer Institute for Future Teachers at Eastern Starts on July 5

Willimantic, Conn., June 26 -- More than 20 high school juniors and seniors from 17 Connecticut school districts will receive an inside look at what it takes to become a teacher when they participate in the Tenth Annual Summer Institute for Future Teachers (SIFT) program at Eastern Connecticut State University from July 8–Aug 3.

Eastern and the Capital Region Education Council (CREC) created the SIFT program as a way for students to come together to explore the teaching profession. “SIFT aims to increase the number of Connecticut students who consider teaching as a career, recruits for greater diversity among future Connecticut educators, emphasizes the increasingly important role educational technology will play in teaching and learning, and expands outreach efforts to recruit in Windham County and eastern Connecticut,” said David Stoloff, chair of Eastern’s Department of Education.

During the program, students are immersed in coursework and field trips; work with pre-school, elementary and middle school children; and integrate educational theory with practical experience. Workshops will include team-building exercises; study and practice in curriculum development and classroom management; as well as field experiences in a summer enrichment program and in educational institutions in eastern Connecticut.
Students are expected to prepare and present lesson plans, create positive learning environments, give detailed reports defending their choices for classroom layout, and maintain journals reflecting on their teaching observations and experiences. Participants will develop a professional portfolio and earn three undergraduate credits.

SIFT participants may also take part in a follow-up program, the Future Teachers Conference held in May 2008 at Eastern, to further their understanding of the educational process. Students will receive career guidance, training resources and information about professional educators associations. SIFT participants are selected on the basis of their application, essay and letters of recommendation.

For more information about SIFT and to apply, contact David Stoloff at (860) 465-5501, or email stoloffd@easternct.edu.