Rationale
A middle school should not be an insular community. Students should feel or at least be reminded often that they are a part of a larger community to which their connections are myriad. Students should have a variety of experiences that expose them to different age groups, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, professions, interests, and ways of life within their community. Students should be familiar with the beneficial effects that a range of volunteer organizations and charities cause in their community, and how they, as students of any age, can help.
To this end, my mentor in 6th grade Humanities, arranged for our homeroom to visit with the students in a local Head Start program during school hours several times over the course of the school year. Time was carved out of a busy schedule to allow for our initial fall visit, which entailed traveling in a mini bus to the program, where each of our students was matched with a pre-K, student and shared an activity, and later a book with their new friend. In the spring, after several thwarted attempts due to snow days, the parents and teachers from the Head Start program visited our students at Berwick Academy. It was a perfectly beautiful day (see pictures), except for the fact that there was no wind to lift the kites that the students constructed together that morning.
A middle school should not be an insular community. Students should feel or at least be reminded often that they are a part of a larger community to which their connections are myriad. Students should have a variety of experiences that expose them to different age groups, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, professions, interests, and ways of life within their community. Students should be familiar with the beneficial effects that a range of volunteer organizations and charities cause in their community, and how they, as students of any age, can help.
To this end, my mentor in 6th grade Humanities, arranged for our homeroom to visit with the students in a local Head Start program during school hours several times over the course of the school year. Time was carved out of a busy schedule to allow for our initial fall visit, which entailed traveling in a mini bus to the program, where each of our students was matched with a pre-K, student and shared an activity, and later a book with their new friend. In the spring, after several thwarted attempts due to snow days, the parents and teachers from the Head Start program visited our students at Berwick Academy. It was a perfectly beautiful day (see pictures), except for the fact that there was no wind to lift the kites that the students constructed together that morning.
Reflection
Although I did not make this contact with Head Start or organize this mentoring program, I was fortunate enough to attend both of these meetups, and help out by taking pictures and keeping the activities and conversations between reading buddies moving along. It was evident to me that there was very important content being shared here, and I will certainly be looking to make similar connections to my school's surrounding community.
Although I did not make this contact with Head Start or organize this mentoring program, I was fortunate enough to attend both of these meetups, and help out by taking pictures and keeping the activities and conversations between reading buddies moving along. It was evident to me that there was very important content being shared here, and I will certainly be looking to make similar connections to my school's surrounding community.