Each Fall, schoolteachers and home-schooling parents bring their kindergarten, elementary and middle school students to join the pre-service teachers at Â鶹ƵµÀ Western in explorations using math, science, literature, and arts.
Pre-service teacher and elementary student take a closer look at a plant stem. Check out to see more of the investigation they did one Friday afternoon.
Rural Fridays not only provides Â鶹ƵµÀ youth rich learning experiences, but also gives pre-service teachers at Western an immersive and well-mentored teaching experience.
The mentoring that pre-service teachers receive from professors, schoolteachers, and other education experts helps them develop the skills needed to become highly qualified teachers.
2026 Dates
Rural Fridays 1: September 18
Rural Fridays 2: September 25
Rural Fridays 3: October 2
Rural Fridays 4: October 23
Rural Fridays 5: October 30
Daily Schedule
Morning Check-In: 8:00 to 8:15 AM
Morning Class: 8:15 to 11:00 AM
Morning Check-Out: 10:45 to 11:00 AM
Lunch: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Afternoon Check-In: 12:00 to 12:15 PM
Afternoon Class: 12:15 to 3:00 PM
Afternoon Check-Out: 3:00 to 3:15 PM
To ensure children have a safe learning environment, each pre-service teacher has passed a criminal background check, maintains their good standing with the university, and is prepared to implement our program policies.
If this sounds like a good program for your child, please review our program policies and enroll your K-8 student today!