University Courses
This page provides details and links for current and future graduate courses being taught by Dr. Virginia Freyermuth at colleges and universities.
Dr. Freyermuth taught for five years as a full-time faculty member of gradaute and undergraduate courses before her retirement from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She continues to teach at UMass Dartmouth on an adjunct basis through the Center for University, School and Community Partnerships. Dr. Freyermuth worked for three years as an Art Master Teacher for Connecting Oceans Academy (COA) graduate courses and she continues to offer courses and workshops through the Academy. The COA is affiliated with the ECHO Project, Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations, a federally-funded educational and cultural enrichment initiative annually serving thousands of children and adults in Alaska, Hawaii and Massachusetts. She is currently co-teaching a course for Teach!SouthCoast (please see details below).
Courses Now Enrolling:
Dr. Freyermuth is tentatively planning a graduate course for teachers in July 2009. Please check this page or join the e-mai list by using the Contact Form for updated information.
Current Courses Now in Progress:
Maintaining Your Balance!
A Beginning Teacher Support Seminar for TEACH! SouthCoast Program Completers
Ongoing through 2008/2009 School Year
Dr. Freyermuth currently teaches for Teach!SouthCoast at UMass Dartmouth in collaboration with Dr. Carol Radford, Program Director. TEACH! is an innovative, accelerated, alternative teacher preparation program that guides participants toward earning Massachusetts initial licensure, specifically, to teach middle or high school math or science in an urban school district. Prior to earning licensure, participants in the program can either serve as teacher apprentices, or as full-time working teachers ("teachers of record").
Location: Center for University, School and Community Partnerships, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Fairhaven, MA
Purpose of this course:
To provide support to graduates from the TEACH! SouthCoast program.
Context of the Course: Beginning teachers need continued support throughout their first five years of teaching. Research shows that 50% of urban teachers leave the classroom before their 5th year. This course provides follow-up to concepts discussed in the Accelerated Post-Baccalaureate teacher preparation.
The assumption that the “2nd year” will be easier often discourages new teachers who may find it to be more difficult. District expectations that new teachers are ready to be on their own, lack of funding for mentoring, and added duties all contribute to a possible 2nd year slump. Some teachers rethink their decision to remain in teaching during this year.
This course is about “maintaining balance” by building on what was learning in teacher preparation while extending and expanding learning through inquiry and reflection. The goal is to retain urban teachers in these partnership districts.
Essential Questions for this course:
- How does a beginning teacher build and maintain positive relationships with students, families and colleagues?
- In what ways can a beginning teacher plan and provide instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse students?
- What are some strategies for reflection, inquiry, and professional observations of experienced teachers and how do these processes influence a beginning teacher’s teaching practice?
- Where does a beginning teacher observe to find evidence of student learning?
- How does a beginning teacher collaborate with and become of teacher leader with colleagues to promote an adult community of learners?
For more information about Teach!SouthCoast please call 774-929-3028.