More than 400 students from Tannahill Intermediate School got a glimpse of collegiate life at TCU recently when the School of Education hosted a campus visit for sixth graders. Forty-five volunteers, including TCU students, faculty and staff, led the sixth graders around campus, in an effort to teach them about academics, athletics and student life.

“Tannahill is an urban school and many of the sixth graders are potential first-generation college students,” says Mary Patton, associate education professor. “The School of Education’s Center for Urban Education (CUE) prepares students to teach in diverse or urban settings and working with Tannahill Intermediate School relates directly to the goals of the CUE.”

From coursework to extracurricular activities – the sixth graders learned about what they could anticipate for the future. The campus tour emphasized opportunities associated with higher education as well as careers paths. The Tannahill students visited academic departments and areas of interest including the art gallery, a ballet class, the TCU Daily Skiff office and the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery where students touched a piece of Mars. The sixth graders also heard about Greek life and Horned Frog athletics from student panels.

The campus visit was one of several ways that students at TCU and Tannahill interact. TCU education students have practicum and student teaching positions at the school. They also create math and science fun packs for the fifth and sixth graders to take home in the summer as well as “College Bound” curriculum.

The “College Bound” curriculum emphasizes the benefits of college, working hard but having fun and how college is accessible for many individuals. TCU students presented the material at Tannahill Intermediate School before the students visited campus. The material and visit informed students about college in general—not just TCU. Students learned about community colleges and vocational schools as well as how to choose a school, the admission process and financial aid.

“Many of the students think they cannot afford college,” Patton said. “We let them know about scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid. We also encouraged them to develop their interests and become an expert in something.”

"Tannahill and TCU have developed a partnership over the last four years. The relationship that we have with Tannahill is the kind of relationship that all schools of education should have with lots of local schools and administrations,” Patton said. “We are trying to build similar relationships with other schools in Fort Worth.”

For more information on the School of Education, visit http://www.sofe.tcu.edu/

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