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Guidelines for Reading Tutoring Sessions: Service Learning (or what do I do now?) |
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In the national service arena, tutoring models range from cross-age to intergenerational programs. But don't let the jargon scare you. Instead, think of yourself as an advocate, and use the following guidelines to create successful sessions.
Simply put, service learning is a philosophy, one that can become integrated into any learning activity if students are appropriately prepared, engaged in action to aid their communities, and encouraged to reflect on their experience and celebrate their accomplishments. Service learning has been defined as the integration of service with academic learning. Every tutoring session can embrace the ethic of service learning. In art classes, middle school students can help developmentally-delayed children illustrate books. College students in teacher preparation programs can translate stories into Spanish and read them to children at a local homeless shelter. High school students can help recent immigrants pass citizenship tests as part of their study of U.S. demographics. Ideally, it's a win-win situation in which the service supports the learning and the learning supports the service.
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Tips for Service Learning Tutoring Projects
- If you are a student coordinator of a service learning project:
- Assess (and then address) community needs. Any tutoring project should be well-grounded in the particular needs of your community. Send out a survey or meet with community groups in order to determine how best to serve the community.
- Know your neighbors. Most projects are predicated on partnerships between organizations, partnerships that are mutually supportive. Look at what's around you. Are there day care centers or retirement homes in need of help? Are there businesses that could contribute materials? Don't be afraid to ask.
- If you are providing direct service:
- Make connections. Not just within the community but between academic subjects, imagination and reality, the past and the present.
- Use many forms of reflection. Write or draw in your journal. Hold debates with your peers. Make presentations to your school board. Create a display for your library. In addition to learning about your community and acquiring skills, you should be learning something about yourself
- Take ownership of your project. This is your chance to contribute. Seize the opportunity. You'll be challenged to extend classroom learning into the unpredictable real world.
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| Links |
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- National Service Learning Clearinghouse provides timely information for the service-learning community in higher education, kindergarten through grade twelve, community-based initiatives and tribal programs, as well as all others interested in strengthening schools and communities using service-learning techniques and methodologies. The Web site hosts four searchable databases including a library catalog with over 4,000 items, the Learn and Serve America program directory, a collection of categorized service-learning links, and an up-to-date calendar of conferences and events. In addition, www.servicelearning.org contains service-learning bibliographies, fact sheets, tool kits, online documents and publications for order.
- Youth Service America's mission is to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities for young Americans to serve locally, nationally, and globally.
- By Request: Service Learning in the Northwest Region is a booklet on service learning programs and strategies. Shows how others address issues, overcome obstacles, and attain success. By Request is a product of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
- Association for Experiential Education. The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) began in the early 70’s when a group of educators assembled in Boone, North Carolina to discuss ways in which education could be made more relevant for students. Since that time, AEE’s membership has grown to over 2,000 members who are interested in transforming education through service-oriented programs. Their Web site lists information on membership, professional and special interest groups, relevant publications, grants, and other resources.
- The Big Dummy’s Guide to Service Learning. This web site addresses frequently asked questions related to faculty, programmatic, student, administrative, and non-profit organization issues in the field of service learning.
- Constitutional Rights Foundation. An organization focused on instilling a deeper sense of citizenship through service learning, CRF provides sample lessons, on-line publications, descriptions of its programs, and links to other related resources.
- The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) provides opportunities for young people to get involved in youth leadership programs; an on-line version of its publication on public policy, “The Case”; and relevant publications and videos. In addition, it provides related links to other Internet resources on youth leadership.
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