Final Service Learning Reflection #3

I feel like out of the readings that we've done that Savage Inequalities relates to the volunteer work than any other piece we've read. The way that the children I've tutored over the semester and the children that are talked about in Savage Inequalities are very similar. They are determined to get out of where they are and go to college to become successful. While they are kids, in both instances, that just want to get through school or just drop it, there are those that want more than what they have. They work hard and are able to break free of where they are and get to college and achieve their goals.

Another way that the two are similar is that the kids don't have the best learning conditions and they knew it. In Savage Inequalities in many of the schools there was a lack of books, basic learning materials, and the school itself were in bad shape. Now, where I did the tutoring is a nice center, but sometimes it did lack in some basic things. The learning materials they had were a few years old or just out of date in general and sometimes they center workers weren't able to help with the homework cause they didn't know the answers themselves. Not being able to help the kids achieve their goals is heartbreaking but sometimes it's totally out of your control even though you want the best for them.

With that, the support of the teachers that they give to the kids is something that is similar in both instances. Most of the teachers in Savage Inequalities try their hardest to help the kids and have faith in them. At the center, the adults in charge want what's best for the kids and will help them any way that they possibly can so that they are able to achieve their goals. In the book, the teachers often went above and beyond their means to help the children to get what they needed. Having that support of an adult is sometimes all the children need to excel and know that there is something better out there for them, even if where they are, there isn't the best for them.

Final Service Learning Reflection #2

The use of space is a big thing that impacts the way that I help the kids. The homework room has a big window that sees out into the space where all the other kids play, which can cause many distractions when trying to help someone with their homework. They see what the other kids are doing and it causes them to loose focus and to not want to work or just to rush through the work to get it done so they are able to play with their friends and not be stuck in the homework room. Their minds tend to wander and it's hard to get them back to focusing on their homework to get done.

Another thing I noticed is that the materials available are hand-me-downs and not in the best condition. Looking at the encyclopedias, they weren't even the most current and there isn't a complete set. I never even saw any of the kids use any of the books on the shelves. It's like they know they aren't the best books.

Towards the end of my visits, the kids got a game room, but during my last 2 visits, they weren't allowed to be in there due to the fact that somehow the equipment had gotten messed up. It upset the adults in charge because the equipment was new and the kids were disrespecting it. I was surprised the kids didn't show the equipment more care since it was new and wasn't used. When they weren't allowed in there, they would just stare in there looking and wishing they could play with the games. It was kind of heartbreaking to watch because some of them probably don't have access to play with such nice things and the fact that just a few kids ruined it for everyone didn't seem fair to them.

I feel like the space outside was the most valuable of all to the kids. With the playground and the track they are able to run around and not be so constricted to being inside. On the days where it was too cold to be outside, you could tell the kids were going crazy while being inside. Being able to have the freedom to run around and not be yelled at for running inside or anything is important to the kids.

Final Service Learning Reflection #1

The experience I've had in my learning of literacy is far different than those of the students I've been involved with in the sessions. What I believe to be some basic aspects of writing, literacy, etc. the students had no idea how to utilize them or even what they were. Their education seems so lackluster to what mine was and that was surprising to realize. I felt like all students got the same education, but I was wrong. I went to school in a predominately white community with good schools, whereas most of these students go to lower income schools that don't have as much money to give them the things they need to be able to get the education they deserve. Seeing how where they live affects what kind of education they get, to me is something that shouldn't be happening.

We did have some similarities in our literacy experience. We both had teachers that cared a lot about our education and wanted us to succeed in life. Having a great support system that has faith in what we are doing and that we can succeed is a key part in our literacy experience. Being taught by someone who cares, gives them the education they need and deserve. If they have teachers that don't care about what they are teaching them, then they don't get the education that they deserve to get.

Volunteering blog session 7&8

Yesterday I did my final 2 hours of volunteering. I got there a little bit earlier and it was interesting to watch the staff prep for the kids to arrive. 2 of the high school students were already there so I talked with them a little bit about why they were there so early and other things. When the younger kids showed up they immediately had to go to the gym and once again, like the last time I visited, they were reprimanded over something they had done in the new game room. I decided not to go into the gym this time and just watched from the doorway and it was interesting to see how the kids reacted to what they were being told. Most of the kids opted to go outside after that and I decided to stay inside with the few who stayed in since it was chilly out.

During the 2nd hour, I stayed inside and talked to the high school kids about college. They were curious about Belmont and what was required and what the classes are like. They were really interested in hearing about college, which I guess shouldn't surprise me, but it was good to see that they were so determined to go to college and pursue a higher education than just high school. After that, since no one had homework, we just sat around and watched TV.