FARMINGTON — University of Maine at Farmington Associate Professor of Literacy Education Kathryn Will and a group of UMF pre-service teachers recently welcomed more than 60 K-8 students, parents, educators and community partners from one- and two-room Maine island schools for a hands-on learning experience. More than 20 of Will’s current students preparing for careers as educators worked hand-in-hand with the island students in age-appropriate learning that centered on a deep understanding of Maine, the value of place and the importance of community.
“Collaborations like this are at the heart of learning at UMF. Daily coursework provides essential student preparation, however, experiential learning where students learn by doing and engage in professional experiences provides a deeper understanding of what they learned in the classroom,” said Will.
The island schools — including the Cranberries, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, Chebeague and Cliff — are part of Maine Seacoast Mission’s Teaching and Learning Collaborative, a 16-year-old collaboration among these unique island schools. The students were involved in learning about historical Farmington figures, mapping exercises, selecting children’s literature and working on projects in the UMF Makerspace in Mantor Library. They also learned about sustainability with a visit to the UMF Biomass plant and explored the college’s Fitness & Recreation Center.
UMF also cultivates a strong connection with its alumni and 2021 UMF graduate Ashley Greenleaf, a classroom teacher at Cranberry Isles School, and Will, her teacher and mentor, collaborated on the day’s events.
“We are intentional about providing regular opportunities for connection for our staff and students alike,” said Greenleaf. “These field trips are a wonderful opportunity to socialize and to have learning experiences that are new and different.”
The UMF activities were part of the TLC fall field trip, organized by Sunbeam Education Coordinator Yvonne Thomas to strengthen connections across the islands and build relationships among students, teachers and families. An open to the public panel on “Schools on Islands in Maine” moderated by Will focused on how place shapes schools and how essential schools are to rural communities. Outdoor activity options included local hiking, exploring downtown Farmington — and a favorite — driving by their teacher Greenleaf’s childhood home.
“The TLC helps create and strengthen a sense of community across the islands by connecting island students, teachers and families through in-person events such as our field trips. We loved doing hands-on activities with the UMF education students, or ‘future rock-star teachers,’ as education professor Kathryn Will calls them,” said Thomas.
Another example of this kind of work is a zoom-based Book Buddies program where Will’s students work with fourth graders at Wiscasset Elementary School. In addition, they participate in a partnership with students enrolled in a Hunter College Children’s Literature course in New York. Will’s students connect with each of these opportunities three times a semester to share learning experiences and deepen their understanding of the role of place and context in teaching and learning.
“This was a wonderful event for my pre-service teachers to participate in,” said Will. “This experience provided a powerful opportunity to develop their skills in collaborative professional relationships with one another and the educators across the state of Maine. Their leadership role in the planning and enactment of the learning opportunities provided authentic learning and leadership.”
Since 1905, Maine Seacoast Mission has a long history of supporting education for children and teens living in island and coastal communities. Today, the nonprofit operates five distinct education programs on Maine’s outer islands and in the Downeast region, which offer a mix of classroom, experiential, and scholarships to advance student aspirations. For more information, please visit https://seacoastmission.org/.
