• In 2011, Dual major (Secondary Education: Social Studies and History) Grady Burns of Auburn, Maine was named a Michael D. Wilson Research Scholar and used his scholarship funding to conduct a self- designed research project to examine the influence of big cocoa on Nkrumah's Ghana and Cold War America.

• In fall 2010, four Maine "Teachers of the Year," including three University of Maine at Farmington graduates, visited UMF for a day to share their professional experiences with students preparing to become tomorrow's teachers. During their visit, the four top educators stopped by UMF Education classes to answer student questions about the classroom experience and also presented a program on how to include parents as partners in their children's education. Note: Four of the past six Maine Teacher of the Year were UMF graduates and other states' Teacher of the Year have also been UMF graduates.

• Early in your program you will spend one semester helping, teaching and learning in a local middle school or high school classroom. Later in the Secondary / Middle Ed program you get to participate in a 16-week student teaching experience. Students often say these real-world, teacher-side-of-the-desk experiences are a highlight of the program.

• In 2009, Farmington presented its second annual "Teaching and Working in a Diverse World" conference, a half-day event that explored the impact of poverty on schools, families and communities. The keynote speaker was Elyse Pratt-Ronco, an educational counselor for the UMF Upward Bound program who spent 10 years working with adolescents living in rural poverty. Her presentation examined the complex effects of poverty and how it can result in both negative and nurturing outcomes. There was also a series of 50-minute sessions presented by Farmington faculty and students, and community members on the challenges of living and learning with poverty.

• Farmington Secondary / Middle Education students have the opportunity to work at the on-campus Math or Writing Clinic to gain valuable hands-on experience while earning money for college. The clinics provide valuable real-world experience in tutoring college students who are taking a variety of college-level math and writing courses.

• Secondary / Middle Ed students may also gain teaching experience by supervising various campus study groups through the on-campus Learning Assistance Center. They also work closely with faculty in after-class activities, such as the bimonthly Wednesday Math Hour.

• In your second year practicum block, you will work to develop expertise in the use and integration of technology, such as multi-media presentations, wikis, moodles (Virtual Learning Environments), blogs, and WebQuests. You also learn pedagogical principles, including planning, application of state and national standards, assessment and classroom management.

• Here, you will learn about and apply Special Education concepts in the middle school and secondary regular classroom setting.

• Because of Farmington's close ties with area schools, Secondary / Middle Education students often take advantage of opportunities for paid or volunteer work in local schools.

• Secondary / Middle Education students will use the Curriculum Resource Center in Farmington's new Education Center. The Curriculum Resource Center provides you with teaching aids in every subject matter area. In addition, the Everyone's Resource Depot (located right on campus) offers items for students create inexpensive teaching materials.

• Farmington Secondary / Middle Education students develop a proficiency in their subject matter area in order to be certified as "highly qualified" under No Child Left Behind laws.

• Upon completion of degree requirements, you will be automatically recommended by Farmington to the State for teacher certification. The teaching certification will be recognized in many other states.

For additional information about Secondary / Middle Education at the University of Maine at Farmington, just contact the Office of Admission:

Office of Admission
University of Maine at Farmington
246 Main Street
Farmington, Maine 04938-1994
US tel 207-778-7050
Intl. tel 00-1-207-778-7050
fax 207-778-8182
TDD/TYY 207-778-7275
umfadmit@maine.edu