By Stephanie Schupska
University of
Georgia

Paper people and artwork dance from the ceiling as Gary Rymer
asks kindergarteners a question. During most of the University
of Georgia senior’s courses he listens to lectures and
participates in labs. In his Project FOCUS class, he’s the
teacher.

Project FOCUS – Fostering Our Community’s Understanding of
Science – is a partnership between school districts and UGA,
said David Knauft, a UGA College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences professor. This partnership is
increasingly important as schools struggle to meet federal
government requirements in adequate yearly progress. AYP
includes improvements in science test scores in middle and high
schools.

“As of right now, there is no high stakes testing for science
in the elementary schools, so teachers spend more time working
with reading, math and language arts,” he said. “Our students
help the teachers give more emphasis to sciences.

“One thing we realize is that the FOCUS students don’t always
go back in the class for a second semester.” But after a UGA
student has taught, the elementary school students are
more “excited about science. The children tell our FOCUS
students that they want to grow up and be scientists, just like
the UGA students.”

In 2002, Knauft helped start the semester-long program in which
UGA students teach elementary students science two days per
week. FOCUS enrolled 40 students for the fall semester. The
program, which started at Barnett Shoals Elementary School in
Athens, Ga., now extends to several other schools.

Undergraduates must have 12 hours of science courses and a 2.5
GPA to apply, but Knauft sees majors varying from genetics to
marketing.

Teacher appreciation

Recently, children studied different ecosystems in Wendy
Weiglein’s kindergarten classroom at South Jackson Elementary
School. During science center time, Rymer passed around rocks
and shells with his group of four students.

“They’re a lot of fun to be around,” Rymer said. He travels
daily from his home in Kennesaw to attend classes at UGA and to
teach.

Weiglein asked for a Project FOCUS teacher because she saw how
the program helped another class. “They were always doing
interesting things out in the hall with the students,” Weiglein
said. “I wanted my students to have that … they’re always
asking, ‘Is Mr. Gary coming?’”

FOCUS students have also learned to appreciate their partner
teachers.

“The kids are the best thing about this program, and my teacher
that I work with,” said Caitlin Walther, a senior psychology,
pre-nursing major from Atlanta. “She is a saint in my eyes and
has restored my faith in teachers.”

“Project FOCUS has given me a newfound respect for teachers,”
said Tripp Wall, a fourth-year biology, pre-med major from
Toccoa. He plans to become an anesthesiologist. “I never
realized how much of a pain it could be to teach a classroom of
students. I never realized that some students just cannot learn
as fast as others.”

FOCUS helps students “improve their communication skills,”
Knauft said. “If you can manage a class full of third graders …
you learn to do a lot of thinking on your feet.”

The program also has students analyzing teaching
methods. “Because the UGA students do a lot of active teaching,
they’ve become a lot less tolerant of poor teaching in their
own UGA courses,” Knauft said.

Hugs for grades

Project FOCUS helps promote science in a positive way to
elementary students and teachers who work with UGA students.
This positive emphasis has its rewards. “I get hugs for
grades,” said Renee Pascale, a junior biology education major
from Atlanta. “No other class has that in the curricula.”

Back in Weiglein’s classroom, Rymer gets comments like: “Wow,
you’re a giant.”

“I can sum [the experience] up like this,” he said. “I have
been blessed in so many ways. I found a way I could help. I
believe that these kids will someday be involved in shaping our
nation. If I can be a positive influence, and help better
someone’s life, why not?”

(Stephanie Schupska is a news editor with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)