The School of Education at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) has established a new partnership with Drew Central Elementary School to build a Literary and Math Learning Lab Classroom. The partnership provides teacher education candidates at UAM with opportunities to apply their coursework in a public-school setting while supporting instruction for elementary students. 

Supported by the UAM Centennial Grant, the partnership has equipped the lab classroom with the necessary technology and high-quality instructional materials designed to enhance learning for both UAM students and Drew Central Elementary students.  

The partnership’s pilot course is Teaching Literacy, which is taught on the Drew Central Elementary campus by Crystal Grimes, instructor of education at UAM. College students enrolled in the course have been admitted by the School of Education as teacher education candidates. Candidates work directly with an elementary classroom selected specifically for the partnership. Candidates first learn literacy concepts and instructional strategies from Grimes and then teach those concepts to the elementary students, assessing their progress to identify learning gaps. If a learning gap is detected, candidates create a plan to help students strengthen those skills. The entire process occurs under the supervision of Grimes and Drew Central Elementary teachers.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) will host its annual Parent/Family Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 26, on UAM’s Monticello campus. 

This year’s Parent/Family Appreciation Day invites relatives of students to enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly activities with the UAM community and cheer on UAM Football during its game against the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys.

Activities will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the south side of Weevil Pond and include music, face painting, a temporary tattoo booth and a variety of games. Students may bring any number of family members.

At 3:30 p.m., the Walk of Champions game-day parade will begin on Tailgate Row. 

The Chancellor’s Tailgate Cookout will begin on the south side of Weevil Pond following the parade. Families can visit the registration tent at the south end of Tailgate Row between 3:45 and 5:30 p.m. to receive free tickets to the cookout and free passes to the football game. The first 300 individuals to register will also receive a free UAM T-shirt.