Service Learning

1. Service Learning Abbey Hibbard

2. Service Learning • Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. • Service-learning can be applied in a wide variety of settings, including schools, universities, and community-based and faith-based organizations. It can involve a group of students, a classroom or an entire school. Students build character and become active participants as they work with others in their school and community to create service projects in areas such as education, public safety, and the environment. • Community members, students, and educators everywhere are discovering that service-learning offers all its participants a chance to take part in the active education of youth while simultaneously addressing the concerns, needs, and hopes of communities.

3. Benefits of Service Learning • Increase your understanding of the class topic • Gain hands-on experience (possibly leading to an internship or job later) • Explore or cement your values and beliefs • Have opportunities to act on your values and beliefs • Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills • Grow your understanding of diverse cultures and communities • Learn more about social issues and their root causes

4. More Benefits to Service Learning • Improve your ability to handle ambiguity and be open to change; become more flexible • Develop or enhance your skills, especially in the areas of communication, collaboration, and leadership • Test out your skills, interests, and values in a potential career path, or learn more about a field that interests you • Connect with professionals and community members who you will learn from • Grow a professional network of people you might connect with again later for jobs or internships • Satisfy your urge toward public service or civic participation

5. Service Learning to Me • I have greatly enjoyed doing service hours because it has allowed me to work with children, animals, and even some adults. My favorite service learning was “Blazing through books” because we got to help young children improve their reading skills by reading with them and playing word games. I also enjoyed working at the animal shelter because we got to play and bathe dogs that have to stay in cages all day. Another service learning I did was helping at the 10u travel softball team practices. We got to help the girls learn how to hit, throw, and, catch correctly. I have thoroughly enjoyed my service learning projects!

6. Blood Drive • The softball team ran the first blood drive of the semester last semester. Each player had to 20 people to commit to giving blood. After we received 20 signatures, on the day of the blood drive we had to come and help with the program. We gave out snacks and drinks to the givers. Not only did we help out with other people giving blood everyone on the team also gave blood.

7. Blazing’ Through Books • During Blazing’ Through Books we would be paired up with a partner who was within the age of 4 to 7 and we would help them read books twice a week. Each day we would meet we would choose a book from the pile, read the book thoroughly, work on difficult words, and then draw a picture related to the book.

8. Photo Gallery Me and 2 of my friends painting the trim of a house. Dirty hands from all the paint

9. Photo Gallery • Me and a dog named Abbey at the Animal Shelter Me and my friends helping build a house!

10. Ribbon Cutting for Blazing Through Books • Blazing through books was a great learning experience for me and the children.