By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

Bonnie Connell, left (see Zoom view), Erin Stanforth, center, and Regina Ciarniello, all seniors in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education program at the College of Mount St. Joseph, pose with kindergarten student Joey Waldeck, 5, at Saylor Park School. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

SAYLER PARK - Training to be a teacher in college is one thing. Actually being around children in a classroom and dealing with their parents is something else.

To make the transition easier for student teachers, the College of Mount St. Joseph is immersing would-be teachers in the real world of children at Sayler Park School.

Since September, 34 of the college's undergraduate and graduate education students each spent more than 50 hours learning first-hand about life at an elementary school.

"I wanted to give students experiences with families before they taught," said Linda Loy, assistant professor of early childhood education.

The pilot program, dubbed Literacy Lions, seeks to improve childhood reading skills and to build alliances with families. On Tuesday, organizers will show the community what the students have accomplished.

"In the beginning, I saw it as an opportunity to have some additional assistance in the classrooms," Sayler Park School Principal Gary Vale said.

But in the end, Vale said it was a good experience for everybody.

"All of the students - elementary and college, the parents, Ms. Loy and myself - have learned from working with each other," he said.

Sayler Park School is part of the Cincinnati Public Schools. It has about 400 students in grades K-8. All the school classrooms were involved for at least three weeks with one or more of the college students.

"We did parent interviews, and that taught us a lot about the kids and their home life," said Regina Ciarnello, a Mount senior from Delhi Township. "It helped give us a whole picture, versus the small picture we're given during the seven-hour day."

One of the projects Ciarnello completed with a few classmates was a cookbook with "quick, healthy and easy meals" to help assure that students are properly nourished.

School parents provided some of the recipes and each family will get a copy of the cookbook Tuesday night. More than $1,000 worth of books, school supplies, backpacks, crock pots, cooking utensils and other donated items also will be given to families or raffled.

Loy, who is working on her doctorate degree with a focus on family-centered education, said her goal is to make this pilot program a model format for teacher education.

If you go

What: "Literacy Lions: A Fantastic Family Fun Night," featuring presentations, interactive games, crafts, food demonstrations, raffle opportunities and refreshments. The evening is a showcase of achievements between students from Sayler Park School and the College of Mount St. Joseph.

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Sayler Park School, 6700 Home City Ave., Sayler Park.

Information: 363-5100.

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