Service Learning Project

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Service Learning Project

• By Dawn Bennett

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META Initiative Program...

• A 10 week, structured after school tutoring
  program.
• Designed to engage students in the academic
  process.
• A 5 student to 1 ratio.
• For non-native English speakers enrolled in the
  Language Transitional Program at Gainesville
  Middle School.

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Weeks 1-3

• Students refined their computer skills, learning
  keyboarding, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Students used the internet to refine their
  English speaking skills by practicing on a web
  based language program.

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Weeks 4-6

• Students participated in Comic Books Literacy.
• Used Comic books to engage students in the
  reading process.
• Began the writing process by creating and
  illustrating their own comic book.

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Weeks 7-10

• Students participated in a four week science fair
  research project.

• Students choose an experiment of interest.
• Parents were allowed to attend specific session
  to assist students.
• PowerPoint presentations and research papers were
  used to culminate the project with parent
  attendance.

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My students

• Cecilia
• Born in Durango, Mexico
• Resident of the U.S.A. for a year and a half.
• Moved to another city and withdrew after the
  first week.
• Was very sweet and a delight to teach.

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My students

• Karen
• Born in Durango, Mexico
• Resident of the U.S.A. for a year and a half.
• Loves to draw and is very talented at it.
• Speaks English at a higher level than other
  students in the group.

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My students

• Maria
• Born in Guajnajuato, Mexico
• Resident of the U.S.A. for a year and a half.
• Loves music and is very funny.
• She is very sweet and made me laugh at least once
  everyday.

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My students

• Hilda
• Born in Valle de Bravo, Mexico
• Resident of the U.S.A. for a year and a half.
• Is a whiz at math. Everyday she did math
  homework, and some of which was difficult for me.
• Speaks English well, but when prefers to speak in
  Spanish, Because it is easier.

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My students

• Roman
• Born in Durango, Mexico
• Resident of the U.S.A. for a four months.
• Knew the least amount of English, but made the
  most improvement.
• Loves to draw and play soccer.
• He is very lively and always keep me on my toes.

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My experience

• I had a wonderful time getting to know the
  students, while working very hard to improve
  their ability to do well in school and to master
  the English language.
• Since this was a new program, weeks 1 through 3
  had many bumps and obstacles that needed to be
  worked out.

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My experience

• Weeks 4 through 6 ran a little bit more smoothly.
  The students had a very difficult time deriving
  the meanings of all the slang and idiomatic
  expression that were used in the scripts, but
  this exercise contributed the most to the
  improvement of their English.
• This project has truly been an eye-opening
  experience for me and I am truly grateful for
  having completed it. I feel as if I have learned
  so much more about my teaching methods and
  myself. I look forward to the next opportunity I
  have to work with at risk students.

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