Student Workers gain experience for teaching

By Jordan Savusa

The UH Manoa ’s Children Center is a/b learning through play. So many different lessons are happening at the center that the children are never bored. The faculty motivates these kids, who become more independent, more curious, and more interactive with everyone.

The teachers simply guide their students’ actions, showing them basic skills in problem-solving. There is no break from learning. Everything, even lunch, is a lesson here.

However, another level of personnel is involved at the center. 35 of these people assist in teachers’ lessons, supervise the 2 to 5-year-olds at all times, and have fun with the kids. These are the UH student workers, students, who attend UHM and and work at UHMCC.

The special rapport is of student worker and child is mutual. The children learn to interact with adults, and the workers learn to interact with the kids. The workers understand the children better, which will aid their experiences in the future.

The Teacher has become the Student

They are mostly soon-to-be teachers, majoring in education, art, and nursing. Students work according to their class schedules. They experience wihat it is like to have a job, and to teach kids.

“We want students who will support the teachers,” said the center’s Assiatant Director Lani Au. “They must show initiative and confidence when working with children.” Au said she has not been disappointed with the student workers. “The children know their workers. They know their names and talked to the workers all the time.”

“I have no complaints. They’re like extra bonuses,” said teacher Allison Navarro. “We enjoy them, the kids enjoy them.”

“At first, the kids are a bit scared and confused, but as time goes on, they become comfortable around us,” said student-worker Jared Ku. “For me, it was hard to get used to the job, but later, all fun.”

The Student Worker Experience

Now the student-workers have many duties, including scrubbing toilets and setting up work stations. However, as the UHMCC faculty, teachers, and student workers agree, the most important job is engaging the children to develop their learning skills.

“We have a connection with the children, they want to play with us,” said sophomore student worker Stephanie Cabilin. “Our methods of learning are working out pretty well.” She said that the children are confident to come up to any student worker for help.

Two groups gain knowledge from the Children’s Center. The first are the children, whose environment of love and stimulation will better adjust them to society. The second are the student workers, who will show their students how to better themselves in society.

Additional Information

The UH Manoa Children’s Center is at 2320 Dole St. They specialize in early childhood education, mainly children from ages two to five years. The center is only for children of parents who attend or work at UH Manoa. If you have any questions, their e-mail address is uhmcc@hawaii.edu, phone number (808)-956-7963