Service Learning

When I received an email over the summer asking if I would be interested in participating in a service learning class working with 2nd and 3rd graders, I jumped at the chance. I have loved children for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I enjoyed being with children younger than myself, and helping them learn so this class was perfect for me. I was told that this would be the typical College Writing I class, with an added component. However, in reality, it has been anything but a typical class. In the few short weeks that I have been in the class, I have learned more than I have in any other English class.

We were partnered with a child from one of two classes at an elementary school in Lowell. These children are the stronger readers in their classes, and because of this, don’t get as much individual attention. That is where we come in. Our goal is to work with them to make their strong reading skills even stronger. The teachers gave us a  small book report which is to be completed over the course of our visits. Most of the work will be done by the children, and the our job is to help and guide them along.

The day we found out who our partner would be for the project, was one filled with both anxiety and excitement. The hours leading up to our class were filled with sweaty palms and repeated glances at my phone, hoping that I could make the time go by faster out of sheer will power. I also couldn’t help the thoughts running through my mind a mile a minute: would it be a boy or a girl? If it was a boy, how would I relate to him? Would I be able to pronounce their name? Would they like me? Once class finally began and I found out the name of my partner, all of the anxiety was replaced by excitement. Although there was still a week to go until we would meet them, I felt like I already knew my partner. Even though she was nothing but a name at the time, to me, it felt like we were already old friends.

This feeling was only strengthened when I met my partner. She was warm, inviting and always smiling. When I first met her, she was almost jumping out of her seat with excitement, and I felt grateful that I was not the only one who felt this way. That first day, we sat together and read a book we had each brought. My partner insisted on reading first, and I was astounded by her speed and accuracy; she was able to read and understand everything. Throughout my time with her, my partner has only continued to surprise me with her capability and intelligence.

However, it has not been all fun and games. I have encountered some challenges. My partner is very talkative, which I am grateful for because it made getting to know her very easy. But it has also made working on our project difficult at times. She will often see something around us that reminds her of her best friend, her sister, or a place she visited last summer. She will then proceed to tell me the entire story. Although it makes me happy that she enjoys sharing so much of her life with me, I also am aware of the fact that it is my responsibility to make sure we are being productive. At the same time, I do not want to discourage her sharing. It has been difficult trying to find a balance, and when it is appropriate to take a short break and let her tell me a story.

Another challenge I have faced is learning how to explain things to her that to me, are simple and obvious. Sometimes she will ask me the definition of a word such as “probably.” Because it is not a concrete thing that I can describe, I struggle to find the words to explain to her what this means. In my mind, “probably” means “probably.” There is no other word for it. These situation have helped me challenge myself and push my mind to think in a new way. Despite the fact that I am simplifying the definition, I am working harder to find one she will be able to understand, and thus, am learning along with her. Every time I visit my partner, I learn just as much as she does, if not more.

Through my service learning experience, I have been able to see things differently. It never fails to amaze me how much energy and happiness younger children can store inside of them. It is refreshing to go for a visit, and I always leave feeling uplifted. Partaking in this has definitely helped me expand my horizons and learn to interact with children in a new way and challenge myself to think in new ways, which I believe will be highly beneficial in life. My experience has been nothing but positive and to anyone considering taking part in something like this, I highly recommend it.

Amanda De Moraes

Boston Tutoring Services