First Day at Sunshine Acres Children's Home!
September 1st, 2011
When I took the tour of the Sunshine Acres
Children's Home (I did this last Friday), I was informed that the children go to the school on the
Sunshine Acres campus for their first year at Sunshine Acres. The students are
then evaluated. If they are able to, they are offered to go to public schools or
they can stay at the Sunshine Acres School. Each child may struggle with
something different such as learning disabilities, emotional issues, behind
academically, or just prefer to stay at the Sunshine Acres
School.
Today I met the teacher, students and two other
volunteers at the Sunshine Acres Children's School. There are seven students in
the class I was in today. The teacher allowed me to jump in and assist the
students with their assignments. They were working on addition, subtraction,
temperature, money, and fractions. My elementary days came back to me...I think
I did well for my first day, but I was nervous. I was blown away by how smart
these kids are. I have never experienced assisting another, especially a young
person, in learning something like this. I was instructed by the Academic
Services Director and the instructor of the class "to assist the students, but
don't just give them the answer, and to help them stay focused on their work".
This was a challenge I will hopefully get better at as the service learning days
go on.
When I took the tour of the Sunshine Acres
Children's Home (I did this last Friday), I was informed that the children go to the school on the
Sunshine Acres campus for their first year at Sunshine Acres. The students are
then evaluated. If they are able to, they are offered to go to public schools or
they can stay at the Sunshine Acres School. Each child may struggle with
something different such as learning disabilities, emotional issues, behind
academically, or just prefer to stay at the Sunshine Acres
School.
Today I met the teacher, students and two other
volunteers at the Sunshine Acres Children's School. There are seven students in
the class I was in today. The teacher allowed me to jump in and assist the
students with their assignments. They were working on addition, subtraction,
temperature, money, and fractions. My elementary days came back to me...I think
I did well for my first day, but I was nervous. I was blown away by how smart
these kids are. I have never experienced assisting another, especially a young
person, in learning something like this. I was instructed by the Academic
Services Director and the instructor of the class "to assist the students, but
don't just give them the answer, and to help them stay focused on their work".
This was a challenge I will hopefully get better at as the service learning days
go on.
Second Day at Sunshine Acres Children's Home
September 8th, 2011
This week I worked with the first and second graders for about an
hour. It was nice to see them again. They were very welcoming when I came in. They recognized me and smiled. For some reason I did not expect this. I assisted the students who needed help as they requested or as their attention started to wander. There were a few times I signaled to the teacher I needed her assistance in helping a student on a question. The issue was not that I did not understand the question, I just ran out of ways of explaining it and the students eyes seemed to glaze over or they would get frustrated...not good. This made me think of how challenging in can be for teachers to keep their students on track and the skills they have to guide and teach with out giving a student the answers to the questions...what an art!
After the first hour passed I was pulled to sit with a student who was working on 12th grade government and economics….yikes (I love school, but I don't miss high school). I assisted her best I could, but she seemed pretty smart with very little of my guidance.
This week I worked with the first and second graders for about an
hour. It was nice to see them again. They were very welcoming when I came in. They recognized me and smiled. For some reason I did not expect this. I assisted the students who needed help as they requested or as their attention started to wander. There were a few times I signaled to the teacher I needed her assistance in helping a student on a question. The issue was not that I did not understand the question, I just ran out of ways of explaining it and the students eyes seemed to glaze over or they would get frustrated...not good. This made me think of how challenging in can be for teachers to keep their students on track and the skills they have to guide and teach with out giving a student the answers to the questions...what an art!
After the first hour passed I was pulled to sit with a student who was working on 12th grade government and economics….yikes (I love school, but I don't miss high school). I assisted her best I could, but she seemed pretty smart with very little of my guidance.
Third Day at Sunshine Acres Children's Home
September 15th, 2011
Today was a good day. I was the first volunteer to show up.
Two others came in a little later. I got to work one on one again with one of
the students in the elementary class.
This was one of the students that struggled a little with staying
focused. Thursdays are math days
for the time that I am there.
I noticed this student would read the instructions, but skip over
words as he read them. I had him
read the instructions out loud and had him sound out each word that he seemed
to struggle with. He would then
look at me to verify that what he read was correct. To reinforce and help him
become more independent, I asked him “what are the directions asking you to do?”
He repeated them to me and then got to work on that problem.
He was doing so well on the math packet understanding and working the
problems.
When it was time for recess, the older kids had to bring clip
boards outside to complete their homework from the night before.
He asked if he could bring his math packet! I let him work on it on his
own during recess. Another one of
the students also brought his assignment to recess by choice and sat near
him. When the student I was
working with got stuck, the other student (I believe these two were in the same
grade) offered to assist him. It
was one of the neatest things I have seen!
After recess, I continued to assist the student where needed and
encouraged him to figure out what the problems were asking him.
He did well. He completed his packet before lunch.
I had him go back through to make sure he did not miss any (if a problem
is incorrect or is blank, the teacher has the student correct/complete the
assignment to ensure they understand the material).
He went back through it and found two problems he had skipped. He was so
excited to find them and complete them before lunch.
Today was a good day. I was the first volunteer to show up.
Two others came in a little later. I got to work one on one again with one of
the students in the elementary class.
This was one of the students that struggled a little with staying
focused. Thursdays are math days
for the time that I am there.
I noticed this student would read the instructions, but skip over
words as he read them. I had him
read the instructions out loud and had him sound out each word that he seemed
to struggle with. He would then
look at me to verify that what he read was correct. To reinforce and help him
become more independent, I asked him “what are the directions asking you to do?”
He repeated them to me and then got to work on that problem.
He was doing so well on the math packet understanding and working the
problems.
When it was time for recess, the older kids had to bring clip
boards outside to complete their homework from the night before.
He asked if he could bring his math packet! I let him work on it on his
own during recess. Another one of
the students also brought his assignment to recess by choice and sat near
him. When the student I was
working with got stuck, the other student (I believe these two were in the same
grade) offered to assist him. It
was one of the neatest things I have seen!
After recess, I continued to assist the student where needed and
encouraged him to figure out what the problems were asking him.
He did well. He completed his packet before lunch.
I had him go back through to make sure he did not miss any (if a problem
is incorrect or is blank, the teacher has the student correct/complete the
assignment to ensure they understand the material).
He went back through it and found two problems he had skipped. He was so
excited to find them and complete them before lunch.
Fourth Day at Sunshine Acres Children's Home
September 22, 2011
Today was a great day! I worked with the kids again on their math packets as they had questions. I am feeling pretty comfortable working with these students. The teacher even told me she was happy I am there and that she was going to miss me when I am gone!
Today was a great day! I worked with the kids again on their math packets as they had questions. I am feeling pretty comfortable working with these students. The teacher even told me she was happy I am there and that she was going to miss me when I am gone!