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Service Learning Hello, and welcome to Mrs. Tiernan's service learning page. ** What is Service Learning?[i] ** Service learning is an approach that connects what is being taught in the classroom to effective community service action. It provides students a chance to engage with real world issues and projects that tie the classroom to real life experiences. ** How does Service Learning tie into my child’s English Class? ** Through our study of literature we touch on various themes such as revenge, grief, family, heroism, tragedy, relationships, violence, love, conflict, morality, etc. These themes apply to real life situations and events. Service learning will enable students to see in a concrete and measurable way how these themes are tied to their lives and their immediate community making their learning authentic. Through service learning students will take an active role in doing four forms of research: media based research, surveying, interviewing, and direct observation. They will then have to format and record their research in a formal written document for their service learning action plan. All the skills involved in the service learning process take classroom reading, research, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills and synthesize them into an authentic product that is visible within the school and outside the community. ** How will my student benefit from Service Learning? **

** What kinds of activities will students engage in as part of the Service Learning experience? ** What curriculum standards that are addressed via Service Learning? 1.1.11 Learning to Read Independently, 1.2.11 Learning to Read in the Content Areas, 1.3.11 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, 1.4.11 Types of Writing, 1.5.11 Quality of Writing, 1.6.11 Speaking and Listening, 1.8.11 Research
 * “Adults who engaged in service-learning during their teenaged years are more likely than their peers to be politically and socially connected to their communities, serve as role models for young adults, and attain a higher level of education, according to recent research.”[ii]
 * “Service-learning helps students acquire academic skills and knowledge; for
 * example, participation in service-learning was associated with better grades
 * and higher scores on a state test of basic skills.
 * ”“Students who participate in service-learning are more engaged in their studies
 * and more motivated to learn. Service-learning also is associated with increased
 * student attendance.”
 * “Service-learning has a positive effect on personal development, and is associated
 * with reduced likelihood of youths engaging in “risky” behaviors.”
 * “Service-learning provides an avenue for youths to become active, positive contributors to society.”[iii]
 * “Service-learning has a positive effect on personal development, and is associated
 * with reduced likelihood of youths engaging in “risky” behaviors.”
 * “Service-learning provides an avenue for youths to become active, positive contributors to society.”[iii]
 * “Service-learning provides an avenue for youths to become active, positive contributors to society.”[iii]
 * We will perform “ice breakers” to create a sense of comfort, promote generosity, and a sense of classroom unity.
 * Students will list and determine what is required for their “safe space”[iv] and list their requirements on the smart board. We will collectively agree on these requirements.
 * In learning groups, students will then engage in survey, observation, and interview research. They will do neighborhood walks with parental permission to observe community needs, they may survey a focus group, and/or interview various members of the community to see what they perceive to be real needs in the community.
 * Then as a class they will identify various real needs in the community and perform small group work to flush out the issue that is most important to each student.
 * Each learning group will present their argument for the real issue they wish to engage with for our service learning research, action plan, and project implementation.
 * I may utilize peace circles[v][vi] to narrow the issue down to one multifaceted focal point. They will then develop an action plan and determine how they will impact the community (i.e. documentary film making to be shown at a town hall meeting, unity walk, public demonstration, etc.) All activities will be student driven as they will be the ones choosing, identifying, researching, acting, creating, and presenting.

[i] Articles on Service Learning: [], []

[ii] //Service Learning and the Transition to Adulthood,// []

[iii] Parent’s Guide PDF, [] [iv] By this I mean a space in which they feel comfortable sharing ideas and taking intellectual and social risks. It is a space in which people are respectful of each other’s views and it is a space where active listening occurs. [v] In a Peace Circle the class sits in a circle and passes an object that allows each person to speak. Students are allowed to pass if they wish. Peace Circles are typically used to make decisions that will affect the group or they may be used to express individual views on a topic (i.e. which community issue is most important to tackle and why?) The circle is over when everyone in the circle decides that they can live with the collective outcome. [vi] Article on Peace Circles, []

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Resources and Links:Cavalier Justice Academy Service Learning Standards