GVSU Education Programs News
Future educators bring literacy event to life at Zinser Elementary
April 10, 2026
Grand Valley State University teacher candidates are gaining meaningful classroom experience while helping young learners build confidence in reading and phonics. Through a partnership with local schools, students in Dr. Pengtong Qu’s Foundations of Literacy course recently hosted an interactive literacy night at Zinser Elementary, providing hands-on learning opportunities for children and their families during National Reading Month.
The open house-style event featured engaging literacy stations designed by GVSU students, allowing elementary students to practice reading skills through games and interactive activities. Elementary Education teacher candidates Braeden Vorndran and Carissa Frayer created an animal-themed phonics activity that challenged students to sound out words using letter cards, helping learners connect letter patterns with the sounds they represent.
For Braeden, the experience reinforced the joy of working directly with students and witnessing moments of understanding unfold, sharing that “seeing the gears turn in their heads as they tried to figure it out, the smile that came with the light bulb activating in their mind” made the entire experience especially meaningful. His passion for teaching has been shaped by the educators who influenced him growing up, noting that he has “always loved learning, including learning about learning,” and hopes to create classroom environments where students feel valued, safe, and excited to learn. He emphasized his goal of helping students feel a sense of belonging, explaining that he wants every child to feel they have a place in the classroom and to develop a love of learning that stays with them throughout their lives.
Through Dr. Qu’s course, teacher candidates collaborate with local educators to design activities grounded in literacy pedagogy. These experiences allow students to apply concepts such as phonemic awareness and scaffolding while building confidence in their instructional skills. Braeden highlighted that literacy events help build meaningful connections between schools and families, explaining that these experiences “encourage and foster positive relationships between students, teachers, and parents,” relationships that ultimately enhance the learning process. He also noted that breaking learning into shorter, engaging activities gives students more opportunities to experience success, strengthening both confidence and motivation.
Carissa shared that participating in the literacy event helped connect course content to real-world teaching experiences, explaining that getting involved with students and families in the community while directly applying what she is learning in class makes the experience more meaningful and engaging. As someone who is not originally from the Grand Rapids area, she said the opportunity to work with local schools helped her feel more connected to the community while strengthening her preparation as a future educator. She also emphasized the broader impact literacy events can have for families, noting that young learners benefit from additional exposure to literacy skills while parents and caregivers gain a better understanding of how to support learning at home.
Both students highlighted the importance of early field experiences in shaping their development as educators. Carissa encourages fellow teacher candidates to get involved in a variety of ways, including building strong relationships with professors and peers and taking advantage of community-based learning opportunities that provide valuable insight into the teaching profession. Braeden echoed the importance of dedication to the profession, emphasizing that teaching requires a strong sense of purpose and commitment to supporting future generations.
Through partnerships like the one with Zinser Elementary, GVSU’s Teacher Education program continues to provide meaningful, practice-based learning experiences that prepare future educators to positively impact students, families, and communities. These experiences not only strengthen literacy skills for young learners but also reinforce the dedication and passion that future teachers bring to the profession, one classroom at a time.