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Running Head: SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

Service Learning Project

Melisa Rondomanski
Ivy Tech Community College

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

INTASC Standards Rationale Page

Standard #8: Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to
develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply
knowledge in meaningful ways.
Name of Assignment: Service Learning Project
Date: April 9, 2016
Course: Introduction to Education 101
Brief Description:
This project required sixteen hours of service learning in a classroom over an eight week
period of time. I was to complete twenty out of forty tasks on a task check sheet and give a five
minute introduction to the class. The goal was to give real life experience to aspiring teachers.
Rationale:
To document my understanding of INTASC Standard eight, Instructional Strategies, I
chose to discuss different ways I observed my supervising teacher giving instruction or changing
lessons in ways that all students could comprehend. I observed the morning routine in the
classroom. She would sign each students agenda after they had written their homework. There
was a printed copy of the homework for students who did an exceptional job the past week or for
students who needed a little help catching up. I observed large group activities, partner activities,
and small group activities. Most students really enjoyed the small group activities more than
large group and partner activities.

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Introduction
I had my service learning experience at Mary Castle Elementary in Amanda Maynards
fifth grade classroom. My schedule was Monday 7:40am to 9:40 am and Friday 7:40am to
9:40am. There were twenty-eight students in her class. If I had a choice of a grade level before I
was placed in the fifth grade classroom, I wouldve chosen kindergarten. Hindsight; Im happy I
had the experience with the age group I had. I enjoyed it more than I expected to. The students
were wonderful and very welcoming to a new person in their classroom.
Relate Service Learning Experience to the Classroom
Mrs. Maynards class was incredibly diverse. There were children with special needs,
behavioral problems, and children that were advanced for their grade level. She had different
ways to communicate with each of them, but did a great job blending all of it together when
speaking to the class as a group. It is important to understand how your communication style is
interpreted by others to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings. (Rose, 2007) She
tended to group special needs children together for small group projects so she could assist them
all together. The advanced students left the room to go to a different classroom for certain
subjects throughout the day. I think the diversity of the classroom affected the children in both
negative and positive ways. Amanda was interrupted quite often during lessons by a few of the
children with special needs, and that made it a little more difficult for the rest of the students to
stay focused. On the positive side, they learned how to alter their communication skills at an
early age to help others understand them more clearly. They also developed patience and
understanding for those who took a little longer to comprehend a lesson. Often, I saw students
explain the lesson in a different way to help a fellow classmate understand more clearly. This all
relates to what Ive learned in Education 101 because we discussed our communication skills and

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

how sometimes, you have to change the way you explain something so that everyone
understands you.
Classroom Environment and Student Learning
The classroom was set up with six tables set up in a horseshoe formation. Amanda had
two tables on the left, two on the right, and two in the back so that everyone had clear view of
the whiteboard. She grouped the boys together and the girls together for the most part. There
were two desks next to the back table for two of the children with special needs who needed their
own space. One boy in Mrs. Maynards class had a form of Turrets Syndrome. He had ticks and
needed to be moving constantly. Amanda had a table put on the end of a group of tables for only
him and put a rubber seat cushion on his seat so he would have plenty of stimulation. All of his
classmates are very comfortable with all of his spontaneous movements and have no trouble
ignoring it to focus on their lesson. Amanda had a great connection with each and every one of
her students and they all really liked her. I really like the patience she has for all of them and
being in a room with her put me at ease when, normally, I would be very nervous. She had
posters of sign language letters for the students to hold up when raising their hands. One example
was the letter R, which meant restroom. If they showed the letter R when raising their hand,
she could acknowledge the student without embarrassing them and let them know they could go.
I thought that was a great idea! It took me a while to get used to it, though. The challenge is
creating an emotionally safe environment without relinquishing your role as the teacher.
(Phillips, 2014) Amanda was always very cheerful and happy toward her students, and they
often followed suit. Almost all of them came in with smiles and completed their morning routine
with no problem. She had a very good environment for promoting happy healthy students. She
kept a small basket at the center of each table with a box of tissues, hand sanitizer, colored

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

pencils, and markers. If their baskets looked as nice and neat as they did the previous Monday,
that table got a small reward. I really enjoyed my time in her classroom.
Future Teacher
When Amanda had the children work in small groups, for the most part, she had them
work with the students at their table. I agree with this technique because it helps them make more
friends by working with someone they wouldnt initially choose to work with. A student in the
class had a weekly weather forecast presentation he made every Monday. Amanda would call all
of the students to the front carpet for his forecast and turn the floor over to him. He really
enjoyed this and I think it was a great thing to do to boost his confidence and enhance his people
skills. He did his research and talked a little bit about current events along with the weather. The
other students enjoyed it almost as much as he did. The students took accelerated reading quizzes
after finishing a book. If they scored and eighty percent or higher they got to ring a bell. I think
that motivated students to not only take the test, but to do well on it so they could get recognized
for their accomplishments. I think the way she fed into each of their egos (in a good way) was
amazing. She gave them encouragement that many of them probably didnt get at home. A
great teacher will keep the students wanting to come to school just to see what interesting things
they will explore and discover each day. We call this inquiry. (Johnson, 2013) Amanda is really
a wonderful teacher and has a way of making her students want to come in ready to learn.
Summary
This experience has been so eye opening. Never in a million years would I have
volunteered to help out in a fifth grade classroom. I loved it! Although, I still would rather teach
younger children, I learned a lot about the older students. The first day I was there, all of the

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

children wanted to hug me and ask for my help. I felt so welcome and needed and I really
enjoyed it. On my last day of my service learning, one of the girls came to me and gave me a
little keychain she had gotten me on her spring break trip and a seashell. I almost felt guilty
leaving them for the last time. During the weeks of my service learning, my uncle got in a car
accident and passed away. I attempted to go in the Monday after I found out and Amanda looked
at me and asked what was going on and I just broke down, she hugged me and told me to go
home and take time for myself and come back the next week. She asked if I wanted to stay to
keep my mind busy, but I just couldnt do it. I really appreciated her concern and took my time
and went back and I guess she could just read my face because she didnt say anything about it
and we just moved on with the lesson. She and I got fairly close and on the last day of my
experience she told me she was pregnant and she hadnt told anyone yet. She had a way of
making everyone she spoke to feel important and special and I really envy that about her.

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Reference Page

Rose, J; (2007, January 21, Communication Styles; Aggressive, Passive, Passive-Aggressive or

Assertive Communication)
Johnson, B; (2013, June 28, Great Teachers Dont Teach)
Phillips, M; (2014, June 25, Creating an Emotionally Healthy Classroom Environment)