Published on November 10, 2022 by Leighton Doores  
Unless U

Orlean Beeson School of Education students majoring in Christian education and missions partnered this semester with Unless U, a nonprofit organization that serves adults with developmental disabilities through providing continuing education, job training, life skills and social skills. 

A group of seniors created seven resources, each focusing on a single character trait, that could be used by Unless U to teach their students. The resources focused on courage, honesty, fairness, kindness, patience, respect for others and self-control. Each character trait was aligned with a corresponding bible verse, and three short lessons were created for each trait. Lesson one aligned with an online book or a video of a read-aloud. Lesson two aligned with a bible verse and had an activity, and lesson three included fun practice with the skill or trait.

The seniors created folder games and job boxes that were tested with students at Post Place, a campus of Unless U. The job boxes included activities like color sorting and matching.

Jeanelle Day, professor of teacher education, saw the importance of creating curriculum materials during class that could be used in the community.

“I wanted them to understand that you can do important mission work right in your own backyard,” said Day.

Day hopes to continue providing learning resources to Unless U and other organizations in the community.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.