USP College of Education Practicum School

by Crystal Mastache

On March 18th, we visited USP College of Education Practicum School. We walked around the school, which was filled with nature. The scenery was very different from UIC. We learned about the demographics, the admissions process, and whether the students rely on technology. Most of the students are Brazilian; there are two rounds of tests, and most students use their phones and notebooks to take notes. It’s a competitive school to get into 

We had a presentation, which had some student videos sharing their experiences. Each student had different experiences. There was this boy named Afonso; he was a sophomore. Afonso has a two-hour commute and is currently working, which makes it difficult for him to participate in school activities. In contrast, Ahani is a senior who has expressed that she uses the museums to enrich her learning. Also, she had expressed that community within her school is important to her. 

This school is not only a college; there are elementary and high school students. This school has two sets of starting periods for students. We also were able to speak to some high schoolers. The students we talked to had parents working on campus, so they attended this school. The students knew some English, as well as Portuguese. One exciting thing about the students was how they could express themselves through their outfits. 

We also had the opportunity to speak with teachers, specifically those working with special education students. Many of the materials that these students need are made by their teachers. The image I took shows some of the creative material that these teachers have created. One exciting thing was that they focused on “what the child needs.” This is helpful and a different mindset from the US education system. Overall, the school was beautiful and had some similarities and differences with schools in the United States.