Running Head: Service Learning Reflection Report

Service Learning Reflection Report

Melinda Dwyer
Ivy Tech Community College

SERVICE LEARNING REFLECTION REPORT

INTASC Standard, Description and Rational

Standard #9 Professional Learning and Ethical Practice

The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate
his/ her practice, particularly the effects of his/ her choices and actions on others (learners,
families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each
learner.

Name of Artifact: Service Learning Reflection Report

Date: November 17, 2014
Course: EDUC 101

Brief Description: For this assignment I volunteered for 8 weeks at Northwood Elementary
School. I helped Mrs. Valerie Petty. She is a 3rd grade teacher. I observed her teaching, the
students learning and my interaction with the students. I organized, copied, and assisted when
need. After the 8 weeks I am now summarizing my experience.

Rationale: To document my understanding of Standard # 9, Professional Learning and Ethical

Practice. This experience helped me understand the unique and challenging job of teaching.
This experience confirmed my desire to teach. I got a chance to see and experience the different
job duties of a teacher

SERVICE LEARNING REFLECTION REPORT

Introduction
I was blessed to volunteer at Northwood Elementary School in Franklin, IN. I
helped Mrs. Valerie Petty. She has been teaching for 14 years. She demonstrates the qualities of
a good teacher. She is committed, caring, courageous, conscious, and centered (Koch, 2014).
The students seek her guidance and follow her lead. The students are 3rd graders. They are
learning not only the basic core but also responsibility. I observed her challenge these students
in reading, language arts, science, and social studies and in math. The students strived to do their
best and felt comfortable asking questions. I really liked how they were trusted to handle laptops
and filling out paper work and being responsible for getting things done that need to get done.
They didnt always succeed, but they were given the opportunity and some were very successful.
Northwood Elementary in Franklin, IN is a safe and clean school. I enjoyed volunteering for
Mrs. Valerie Petty and meeting the other staff members.

Relate Service Learning Experience to the Classroom

When the textbook mentioned on page 33 that a teacher needs to manage paper work
(Koch, 2014). The textbook is right. I have copied, graded, and organized a mountain of papers.
But I know I only did 2 hours a week worth of what Mrs. Petty does. This leads me to the
appreciation of the use of technology in the classroom. At Northwood Elementary they use a
computer program called Power School to organize data such as attendance, grades, email, and
other documents. This is cutting out some paperwork and electronically communicating to coworkers and parents. Regularly the students used the schools laptops. They took tests on them
and studied subjects on them. These students are challenge to develop technological fluency.
This will prepare them for the technical world we live in (Koch, 2014). They are also learning to

SERVICE LEARNING REFLECTION REPORT

follow directions, respect property, and be responsible.

I also noticed the school and teachers protecting the students and themselves. In the news
and in our textbook you cant miss the concern our society has on the safety in our schools.
Although these incidents of targeted violence are rare, these incidents have prompted educators
to examine how could have been prevented (Koch, 2012). Before entering the school you must
go through the locked front doors by stating who you are and the purpose of your visit. They
also did a background check on me. While in the building I was required to wear a name badge.
Finally, Mrs. Pettys door to her classroom was regularly locked. I appreciate the measures that
Northwood Elementary School goes to protect the students, staff and volunteers.

Personal Reflections
I would love to say I know what it is going to be like having my own classroom because I
did this service learning experiment. But I have only seen a glimpse of what am in store me.
First of all, I am very compassionate and empathetic. From the first day I saw the child hurting
and not advancing at the same rate as others. My heart was captured. I was relieved to know the
children are under the care of professional able and trained to help them. I like the fast pass of
the classroom, moving from one subject to another. I also really liked the way Mrs. Petty
challenged the students to be responsible for their actions. We went on a public library field trip
and I was surprised at the order and organization of the trip and the need to be flexible that day.
Even though not much went according to plan, it all worked out.

Future Teacher
This service learning experience will be beneficial to me as a future teacher in more ways

SERVICE LEARNING REFLECTION REPORT

than I can count. I will definitely implement Brain Break. This is when Mrs. Petty found a
song and video on the computer and projected it on the large screen for all to dance and sing.
She said this was to stimulate the brain. I also created and presented an autobiography
introduction newsletter to the students, made a seating chart based on learning abilities,
organized groups for the field trip, supervised students, and attended a faculty planning meeting.
All this and so much more will help me get one step closer to the teacher I want to become.

Summary and Recommendations

I have very little recommendations for improving the Service Learning Experience. I
enjoyed my time. I think the checklist is very helpful and so are the logs. Having us students
turn them in monthly is very wise. Writing the 1st journal entry was great. I wish I would have
written two other journal entries to document the experience. The two hours in a day is not
enough time to help the teachers adequately and the 8 weeks is quite long. But other than that, I
immensely enjoyed my experience.

SERVICE LEARNING REFLECTION REPORT

References

Koch, Janice. (2014). TEACH- STUDENT EDITION. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning.