Cedarville university’s curriculum materials center combines learning, play, and community for education majors

Children/ File: Cedars

 According to Cedars, Cedarville University’s Centennial Library is home to the Curriculum Materials Center (CMC), the only spot on campus where students can choose from more than ninety puppets to use. With its bright colors, playful decorations, and cozy orange chairs, the CMC has one of the most inviting atmospheres at Cedarville.

“It’s really cute and comfortable,” said Viv Wheeler, a senior majoring in Primary Education.

But the CMC isn’t just about fun-it plays a key role in preparing future teachers for their classrooms.

The center was established over 50 years ago, back when Cedarville was still Cedarville College, and became part of the library in 1987. It provides education students with essential resources, including curriculum guides, teaching tools, books, and math manipulatives.

Sharon Kerestes, who has been the CMC librarian for 14 years, keeps the library organized and up to date. She regularly reviews new book releases and consults with education professors to ensure the collection meets students’ needs, while also removing damaged or rarely used items.

Wheeler praised Kerestes for keeping the library so well-arranged.

“The layout makes it easy to see everything clearly,” she said.

Kerestes noted that the picture book section is the most popular part of the CMC. Many education students take a children’s literature class in their sophomore year, reading multiple books from different genres each week, and they find plenty of options here.

The CMC also features creative book displays, like a bear-themed arrangement.

Education majors rely on the center’s textbooks as well. These books help students design lesson plans and match the materials used in local school districts. The CMC also offers textbooks for study and test preparation.

What sets the CMC apart, however, is its collection of hands-on teaching tools.

Meredith Avery, a sophomore in Primary Education, appreciates the convenience of borrowing these items.

“They give us access to resources we might have in a real classroom, but don’t yet own,” she said.

These tools range from snakeskin and play money to a model of the solar system. Wheeler used counting blocks and educational games during her student-teaching to help first graders grasp math concepts. Many of these tools are unique and highly effective in the classroom.

“I had a student who said, ‘My cooperating teacher loved this and asked where I got it!’” Kerestes recalled.

The CMC is also a hub for community. Many education students gather there from their freshman year to work on homework or group projects, making it an important space even before they begin student teaching.

“It’s a great spot for group projects or finding materials,” Wheeler said.

“A lot of education majors hang out there,” Avery added. “I can ask questions and get advice from peers who have taken the classes before.”

Between its resources and the sense of community it fosters, the CMC is a central part of helping Cedarville’s education majors develop the skills they need to succeed as teachers.

Freshman Megan Deets, a Professional Writing and Information Design student, enjoys simple pleasures like new notebooks, fresh fruit, and musicals.