This is a guest post from Nora Hutto,  the Dean of the School of Education at University of St. Thomas. Hutto is highly accomplished and well-known as an outstanding leader in K-12 and university education. The UST School of Education offers a comprehensive teacher preparation program that provides relevant, field-based experience for the development of quality teachers and school leaders.

Lemonade Day!

Lemonade Day has provided students the opportunity to learn concepts in an applied situation.  The students who have participated now understand Edward Demmings’ plan, do, act model. Through leaning in the plan, do, act, step by step learning sequence the students have developed a conceptual understanding of  developing a Lemonade Stand or any business that has gone through the process.  The mental and physical process of building conceptual knowledge and turning it into an actual business by developing a lemonade stand teaches life long skills as well as build a confidence or can do spirit that will be with the students the rest of their life.

This model of application serves the K-12 students well, just as it does for the college student teaching the application of theory in the classroom.  The model of building a lemonade stand and selling lemonade can be integrated into the Master of Arts in Teaching Curriculum, which is the new 5th year Master’s Program at the University of St. Thomas.

Through teaching this process to all of the Graduate Students in the 5th year Master’s Program, the curriculum of Lemonade Day, children across the City of Houston in both private and parochial schools will learn the importance of building a lemonade stand in life.

Integrating the Building of a Lemonade Stand, while being based on Deming’s plan, do, act , it is also the model of St. Thomas University which includes know, be, do; educating Leaders of Faith and Culture.

This is an exciting opportunity for K-12 students and the students of St. Thomas University School of Education for which we are grateful.