Service Learning Experience

1. By Maria I. Barillas Service Learning Experience http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set3/local-library-tip-lg.jpg

2. East Arlington Public Library Day: Tuesdays Time: 6-7:30pm Student: Ruben Marrufo Coordinator: Minh Do

3. What was done at the Learning Zone? • 6:00-6:30pm ~ Homework/ Study Time • 6:30-7:00pm ~ Reading Time • 7:00-7:25pm ~ Game Time • Last 5 minutes – Clean Up

4. My First Service Learning My first service learning at the Southeast Library I worked with Noor. The service learning helped me realize that sometimes the planned activities cannot be done within a certain time frame if the student gets distracted or unmotivated. Keeping the student focused was pretty difficult especially during the reading. She was at least reading a book she selected from the library. Week 1

5. Wee Read Experience • I enjoyed learning new songs to the same rhythm of Row, Row your Boat, If You’re Happy and You Know It. Customizing these known songs with words from vocabulary connected to the lesson plan makes it very unique. I also learned it is helpful to have all the songs written out on big pieces of paper. • The toddlers mostly enjoyed the play time at the very end when a simple box was placed in the middle of the carpet. They looked very happy throwing the colorful soft balls into the cardboard box. Week 2 http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/images/play_playpic04.gif http://www.caninespecialtyservices.com/proddetail.php?prod=PEZT665

6. 3rd Week During the service learning I realized that there are students who are not so eager to read and prefer other assignments. I have put in place what I have learned in class and tried to bring students closer to reading by reading to them aloud. I realize that this program is wonderful because the students are at least being exposed to after school time for reading. I read the Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg to Tamara at the East Library Branch. http://www.pokeypup.com/9780763619541.html

7. My Designated Student My mentee is Ruben Marrufowho is in 1stgrade. I enjoyed helping Ruben read books in English even though he said he only reads in Spanish. He did a wonderful job. After he read the first book he seemed more confident to get a second and third book to read. Week 4

8. 5th Week • On this week Ruben was absent so I tutored Brandon. I helped him learn the understanding of new words within the text by using context clues. • Read the book The Adventures of Captain Underpants. • He practiced his cursive. • We played his favorite game Word to Word making words with the blocks using digraphs, blends, initial begin sound, etc. http://www.crossboweducation.com/conson5.gif http://www.crossboweducation.com/conson5.gif http://www.homeroomteacher.com/images/cursiveassignment.jpg

9. Ruben’s Learning Progress • I know I am a visual learner so I helped Ruben by using the play money to help him with his math problems. • He progressed over time on his site words by reading pattern books. • He was able to improve on his double digit addition. • His favorite game was the letter soup; which consisted of making a soup with different letters and identifying a word by it’s letter. • Ruben logged many hours of reading in his reading chart at the Learning Zone. • Over the weeks Ruben was less frustrated in reading after I guiding him with books for his reading level. Week 6,7,8

10. Kimberly • On another occasion that Ruben was absent I worked with Kimberly who is a 3rd grader. • She worked on her vocabulary sentences, and then on her math homework. • She needed help writing her sentence like for the word apple. So both Griselda and I helped her think of different ways to make a sentence with apple. We suggested apple pie, apple tree, apple sauce and even candy apple. Sometimes the students get stuck with so many possibilities or even with no ideas. Week 9

11. Final Week • I have learned to appreciate the help that the library provided as resources for students to better or even challenge their knowledge. • I have also learned to appreciate the time the parents take to bring the student in to Learning Zone. • I will definitely take everything I have learned with me that has come from all the students I have tutored. • I have enjoyed playing the board game with Ruben and the reward of him learning from my game is all the reason I continue to have the passion to be a teacher. • I hope Ruben continues reading so that he will continue to progress his spoken and his written English for his academic success.