SLAM (Service Learning and Academic Achievement in the Middle)

SLAM SLAM (Service Learning and (Service Learning and

Academic Achievement in Academic Achievement in the Middle)the Middle)

Service learning is important for middle level Service learning is important for middle level students students

• Need to be involved in learning something Need to be involved in learning something relevant to themselves, something in which relevant to themselves, something in which they are interested (Terry, 2000b)they are interested (Terry, 2000b)

• Equipped with skills to become more Equipped with skills to become more responsive and effective citizensresponsive and effective citizens

• Skills that help them to become more Skills that help them to become more confident and compassionate human beings. confident and compassionate human beings. “By having a passion for their community, “By having a passion for their community, students develop com-passion themselves” students develop com-passion themselves” (Terry & Bohnenberger, 1995, p. (Terry & Bohnenberger, 1995, p.

All adolescents are All adolescents are • curious, seeking, and wondering about both curious, seeking, and wondering about both

themselves and the world around them. themselves and the world around them. • They are consumed with questions such as They are consumed with questions such as

Who am I?, Where am I going?, and What’s Who am I?, Where am I going?, and What’s it all about? it all about?

• Conrad and Hedin (1991b) have found that Conrad and Hedin (1991b) have found that the power of service comes from placing the power of service comes from placing these young people in a context in which these young people in a context in which their learning is real, having consequences their learning is real, having consequences for both themselves and for others. for both themselves and for others.

Service Learning and Service Learning and Academic Achievement in Academic Achievement in

the Middle the Middle

Blendon Middle School

Heritage Middle School

Walnut Springs Middle School

Genoa Middle School

WhoWho

• Four middle schools in Westerville Four middle schools in Westerville – Two teachers + Four students + One Two teachers + Four students + One

Otterbein teacher candidate = SLAM Otterbein teacher candidate = SLAM advisory team. (per building)advisory team. (per building)

WhatWhat

• To develop a core partnership model To develop a core partnership model with teachers, college students, and with teachers, college students, and young adolescents where youth work young adolescents where youth work collaboratively to plan and collaboratively to plan and implement service learning projects implement service learning projects throughout the school year in their throughout the school year in their community and their respective community and their respective middle schools..middle schools..

HowHow

• Prepare middle childhood in-service Prepare middle childhood in-service and middle childhood teacher and middle childhood teacher candidates to embed service candidates to embed service learning in an integrated curriculum learning in an integrated curriculum using student voice. using student voice.

• Work with young adolescents, to Work with young adolescents, to take a civic leadership role in their take a civic leadership role in their individual schools and community. individual schools and community.

youthLEADyouthLEAD

LEARNLEARN• Teach a class to in-service middle Teach a class to in-service middle

childhood teachers and middle childhood teachers and middle childhood teacher candidates on the childhood teacher candidates on the philosophies of service learning and philosophies of service learning and using this pedagogical stance to using this pedagogical stance to decrease the achievement gapdecrease the achievement gap

ENGAGEENGAGE• Work with in-service middle school Work with in-service middle school

teachers, middle childhood teacher teachers, middle childhood teacher candidates and middle childhood candidates and middle childhood students to develop curriculum that students to develop curriculum that engages students so as to enhance engages students so as to enhance academic achievement, increase academic achievement, increase graduation rates, increase college graduation rates, increase college aspirations, decrease risky behaviors, aspirations, decrease risky behaviors, and prepare young adolescents with and prepare young adolescents with civic competencies. civic competencies.

ACTACT• Participate in a two day summer Participate in a two day summer

workshop using service learning workshop using service learning curriculum with middle childhood in-curriculum with middle childhood in-service teachers, middle childhood service teachers, middle childhood teacher candidates, and middle teacher candidates, and middle childhood students. Help this group childhood students. Help this group develop leadership skills to carry out develop leadership skills to carry out the service learning activities in the the service learning activities in the coming year. coming year.

DECIDEDECIDE• Gather data throughout the year on Gather data throughout the year on

increased student academic increased student academic achievement, social competencies, achievement, social competencies, and self-esteem. Gathering data on and self-esteem. Gathering data on teacher self-efficacy with the use of teacher self-efficacy with the use of service learning as an important service learning as an important curricular stance when working with curricular stance when working with young adolescents, specifically those young adolescents, specifically those at risk. at risk.

DAY 1DAY 1

• What is service learning- video What is service learning- video Everyday PeopleEveryday People

• Service project Service project Beyond the Freeway Beyond the Freeway – Somali MarketSomali Market– Homeless Families FoundationHomeless Families Foundation– Soup Kitchen Soup Kitchen

• Reflection from activitiesReflection from activities

DAY 2DAY 2

• SLAM team participates in a community SLAM team participates in a community mapping activitymapping activity– SLAM team collects data about their community SLAM team collects data about their community

throughthrough• Images (video cameras) Images (video cameras) • Descriptions (handhelds)Descriptions (handhelds)• Community surveys (handhelds)Community surveys (handhelds)

• Reflection: What are common problems and Reflection: What are common problems and situations in Westerville City?situations in Westerville City?

• SLAM team creates plan for the coming yearSLAM team creates plan for the coming year• SLAM team plans for student presentationSLAM team plans for student presentation• SLAM team goes out to each of the middle SLAM team goes out to each of the middle

schools and places a marker to clearly identify schools and places a marker to clearly identify their group presence at each of the schoolstheir group presence at each of the schools

So far…..So far…..

• Advisory TeamAdvisory Team• School PresentationsSchool Presentations• Pay it ForwardPay it Forward• MLK “Walk the Walk” DayMLK “Walk the Walk” Day

And then….And then….

• Global Awareness DayGlobal Awareness Day– Global Dinner Global Dinner – Invisible Children Invisible Children

• Presentation at State ConferencePresentation at State Conference• Attendance at National youthLEAD Attendance at National youthLEAD

conferenceconference• Empty Bowls CampaignEmpty Bowls Campaign• Service Learning FairService Learning Fair

Web sitesWeb sites

• The John Glenn InstituteThe John Glenn Institute• The John Glenn Institute/ ResourcesThe John Glenn Institute/ Resources• The National Commission on Service LearThe National Commission on Service Lear

ningning• Students in Service to AmericaStudents in Service to America• Character Development/ Service LearningCharacter Development/ Service Learning• Community Based Service- LearningCommunity Based Service- Learning• National Service Learning ClearinghouseNational Service Learning Clearinghouse• Service-Learning as an Integrated Service-Learning as an Integrated

Experience in Middle School Education: Experience in Middle School Education: