Written by Ellen King, Learn and Serve AmeriCorps*VISTA
Recently I sat down with Julie Rickel, Community Service-Learning Director at L’Anse Creuse Public Schools to ask her how service-learning is sustainable in her school district. I even caught it on video! Be sure to watch it to learn how a former grantee (who started to receive funding in ’93!) has continued with service-learning.
Recently, the Learn and Serve – Michigan Team developed a survey calling for responses on “Why Do You Do Service-Learning” and “Why Will You Continue To Do Service-Learning.” We will continue to share the responses we received throughout the year.
This post features Sue Wilson, Academic Service Learning Coordinator at the Clarkston Community School District.
Why Do You Do Service-Learning?
Service learning is vitally important in Clarkston. It empowers our students, teachers, families, and community! All students are empowered because they get the opportunity to take the skills they are learning (no matter what level) in the classroom and use them in the real world. Students of all ages learn to collaborate, make decisions, and experience satisfaction in making a difference in their community. It's hard to see this type of learning from textbooks and worksheets! Teachers are empowered as they become a facilitator rather than the "keeper of all knowledge" when students take ownership in their service learning project. Families are empowered when they have opportunities to volunteer and/or share their expertise in their children's classrooms. And, finally, our community is empowered when its businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and schools are working together because it's the right thing to do.
Why Will You Continue To Do Service-Learning?
As an educator, service learning requires passion, organization, and a willingness to think "outside the box." Service learning is not a program that fades because Washington has decided to cut funding. It is our civic duty as parents and educators to continue to provide service learning experiences for our kids. If we don't, who will? Yes! We will continue to do service learning!
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If you are interested in seeing your response appear on our blog, follow this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6SX3BPR and take our short survey to tell us why you do service-learning and why you will continue to do service-learning:
Sue Wilson can be reached at sawilson@clarkston.k12.mi.us for more information.
Written by Nicky Martin, Education Northwest
For 45 years, Education Northwest has been working with schools, districts, and communities across the country on comprehensive, research-based solutions to the challenges they face. Staff at Education Northwest are dedicated to and passionate about learning. Through our work, we strive to create vibrant learning environments where all youth and adults can succeed. We work with teachers, administrators, policymakers, and communities to identify needs, evaluate programs, and develop new solutions. The breadth of our work—ranging from training teachers, to developing curriculum, to restructuring schools, to evaluating programs—allows us to take a comprehensive look at education and to bring wide-ranging expertise and creativity to our clients’ challenges.
Since 1998, Education Northwest has worked specifically to support national service programs and community- and school-based mentoring programs. In partnership with Bank Street College of Education, we administered the LEARNS project for more than a decade – providing training and technical assistance to national service programs working with schools to provide tutoring, mentoring and out-of-school time support to youth.
In October, we built on this experience to partner with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) on The Symposium: National Service as a Strategy to Support Schools. This two-day event in Thompsonville brought together teams of practitioners to learn about evidence-based best practices in tutoring, out-of-school time and school readiness and to hear from successful program peers. Teams spent focused planning time translating best practice into site-specific strategies that will strengthen their programs and bolster their school partnerships. The MCSC will follow up the event with facilitated learning communities that will help to carry on the conversation post-event.
We at Education Northwest have a long history of collaboration with MCSC and were happy to have this latest opportunity! MSCS does terrific work supporting programs throughout the state and sharing knowledge and expertise across the larger national service community. It’s our hope that our event can be replicated in other states in support of the Corporation for National and Community Service’s continued focus on education as a priority area.
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is currently celebrating the second annual Disability/Inclusion week. The MCSC strongly believes in the importance of making service a part of the lives of individuals with disabilities not just in Michigan. Our Learn and Serve – Michigan AmeriCorps*VISTA Ellen King was able to talk with the Director of the Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School, Cynthia McCauley in Panama City. Please read on to learn more about Cynthia and her program.
What has been your experience in engaging youth with disabilities in service-learning projects?
The service learning methodology-especially when it blends individuals of all abilities in service and learning for the greater good, has grown into a passion that is almost who I am. I see the world through the lens of service learning. As an example, one of our projects is serving food to the homeless and individuals with financial challenges. Students with challenges and older individuals with disabilities who have aged out of our Learn and Serve program learn a recipe, travel via public transit to a grocery store, purchase the ingredients, take it to the office-again, via public transit, all with the help of their non-disabled peers. But it occurred to me, how unfair this is to the homeless population, and I thought we must find a way for them to serve, too. So, the meal became a community meal where everyone was invited to join a crafts making session called "Community Pillars." The purpose of the session was to make items from discarded furniture to be sold for donations to support programs for homeless women and children. The power of the concept is so apparent in this project. Egos are being replenished. People are learning or re-learning work skills that they must have. Most important, all are feeling valued and know their lives have meaning. Our shared humanity is so energized by the process.
For more information about the Community Pillars project, click here: http://www.newsherald.com/articles/sbc-94537-homeless-making.html
How has service-learning impacted your students?
Individuals with disabilities have become empowered and independent beyond any one's belief. My daughter, Melissa, is a professor of educational psychology at Indiana University where she teaches special education topics. Since I have taught special education for forty years, she grew up knowing and working with my students. After I started the charter school to use only the service learning methodology, Melissa came to visit the school and said, "Mom, I don't know how to say this in a way that is not politically incorrect, but your students don't look "handicapped" anymore." I hadn't seen it until she said it. She was correct. Because our charter school is only for students with disabilities, our students are able to form true friendships with others who would otherwise never cross paths. My students have the power to make substantive, positive change in all facets of those involved-disabled to gifted-even in their appearance and the ways they carry themselves. This visible, external strength will help them later in life; they will have confidence to remain engaged in their communities and they will have the confidence to seek employment and convince an employer that they are an asset.
Do you have any good stories that would highlight successful service-learning projects with your students?
Our students teamed up with students from a high school in the area, Bay High School, to take a philosophy course overseen by Oxford University. Follow this link to a special video about the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-0wRrP9Zu0
The Michigan Community Service Commission is so excited to announce that we will be celebrating the second annual Disability/Inclusion Week October 17-21, 2011. This week-long effort raises awareness about disability and inclusion to make service a part of the lives of individuals with disabilities. The Learn and Serve – Michigan team will be focusing this awareness on including individuals with disabilities in service-learning projects, and other youth service opportunities. Throughout the week of October 17, we will connect you with countless disability/inclusion resources through Facebook (Learn and Serve – Michigan) and Twitter (@learnandservemi). You can also track the Michigan Community Service Commissions tweets all week with #inclusion. Be sure to check in everyday for inclusive classroom project examples and other service-learning and inclusion related resources!
Sign up to join us for our webinar on Wednesday, October 19th at 3:30 as we discuss “Engaging Youth with Disabilities in Service.” This webinar will connect schools and youth serving organizations with valuable tools and resources to help serve and connect with those with disabilities. Attendees will also hear from a special education teacher who will highlight successful service projects. Registration is still available: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/900700242
Do you have any inclusive service or service-learning examples that you would like to share with us? Comment and we will be sure to highlight it during Disability and Inclusion Week!
