Resources for Parents: How to Get Your Child Started in Service-Learning
ContentsIntroduction
Getting Started
Where to Find Service-Learning/Volunteer Opportunities in Your Area
After-School Programs and Service-Learning
PTA's National Standards for Family/School Involvement
For Further Information…
Introduction
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.
Service-learning can happen in schools from kindergarten through university, in community and faith-based organizations, and can benefit all students no matter what their academic ability level. Why encourage your child’s involvement? Research studies of service-learning show that service-learning programs can have positive impacts on youth in three main areas: academic engagement and achievement; civic attitudes and behaviors; and social and personal skills. Through service-learning, participants also make valuable contributions to their communities and may increase motivation and desire to learn, cultivate responsibility, and improve self-esteem.
This page offers parents information and resources on how and where to get their child started in service-learning.
Parents are in a great position to bring valuable resources, information, and ideas to service-learning programs. Use the information provided in these resources to help introduce service-learning to your child’s school or to support existing service-learning programs. Service-learning programs can offer parents and families the opportunity to participate in innovative learning experiences and to become engaged in their children’s schools in unique ways!
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.
Service-learning can happen in schools from kindergarten through university, in community and faith-based organizations, and can benefit all students no matter what their academic ability level. Why encourage your child’s involvement? Research studies of service-learning show that service-learning programs can have positive impacts on youth in three main areas: academic engagement and achievement; civic attitudes and behaviors; and social and personal skills. Through service-learning, participants also make valuable contributions to their communities and may increase motivation and desire to learn, cultivate responsibility, and improve self-esteem.
This page offers parents information and resources on how and where to get their child started in service-learning.
Parents are in a great position to bring valuable resources, information, and ideas to service-learning programs. Use the information provided in these resources to help introduce service-learning to your child’s school or to support existing service-learning programs. Service-learning programs can offer parents and families the opportunity to participate in innovative learning experiences and to become engaged in their children’s schools in unique ways!
Getting Started
Bring Learning to Life
Learn and Serve America has created a set of tools – available for free – to help you learn more and spread the word about the benefits of service-learning and grow the movement of service-learning starting with your child’s school!
This eight-minute Bring Learning to Life video offers insights from teachers, principals, and students who have experienced the benefits of service-learning, and provides an introduction to service-learning as an effective strategy to improve academic achievement, increase student engagement, improve social behavior, build civic skills, and strengthen community partnerships. The video, available in VHS, CD-Rom, DVD formats, also includes two television public service announcements. Like what you see? Order the beta version and ask your local TV station to play the public service announcement.
A supplementary brochure, posters, and a teachers’ guide to getting started in service-learning are also available. For more information visit:
http://www.servicelearning.org/lsa/bring_learning/.
To request these materials, send an email to , call 1-866-245-7378, extension 130, or visit our Order Publications page:
http://www.servicelearning.org/pubs/.
Learn and Serve America
Learn and Serve America provides an "on ramp" to a lifetime of civic engagement for more than a million students each year. Learn and Serve America provides direct and indirect support to K-12 schools, community groups and higher education institutions to facilitate service-learning projects by:
Service-learning programs can offer parents and families the opportunity to participate in innovative learning experiences, and to become engaged in their children’s schools in unique ways. This Quick Guide looks at some of the research that shows that parental involvement benefits youth, and provides resources on parent involvement in service-learning.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/quick_guides/
family_k-12/
Hot Topic: Getting Started
Find recommended resource items, many available online, on getting started in service-learning.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/hot_topics/
getting_started/
What is Service-Learning?
Not quite sure what service-learning is and how it’s different from community service? Check out this resource which discusses the definition, benefits, and characteristics of quality service-learning and provides resources for further reading.
http://www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/service-learning_is/
Why Districts, Schools, and Classrooms Should Practice Service-Learning
Highlighted here are some key reasons why districts, schools and classrooms should practice service-learning. Print out this resource and take it to your child’s teachers, school board or PTA meeting to providing convincing reasons for how service-learning benefits both students and communities.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/why/
Resources for Kids and Teens
This page draws together selected resources your child can use to get involved in service-learning. It includes resources for elementary, middle, high school students, and graduating seniors. You can also find information and resources for parents and k-12 teachers.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/kids_teens/
Bring Learning to Life
Learn and Serve America has created a set of tools – available for free – to help you learn more and spread the word about the benefits of service-learning and grow the movement of service-learning starting with your child’s school!
This eight-minute Bring Learning to Life video offers insights from teachers, principals, and students who have experienced the benefits of service-learning, and provides an introduction to service-learning as an effective strategy to improve academic achievement, increase student engagement, improve social behavior, build civic skills, and strengthen community partnerships. The video, available in VHS, CD-Rom, DVD formats, also includes two television public service announcements. Like what you see? Order the beta version and ask your local TV station to play the public service announcement.
A supplementary brochure, posters, and a teachers’ guide to getting started in service-learning are also available. For more information visit:
http://www.servicelearning.org/lsa/bring_learning/.
To request these materials, send an email to , call 1-866-245-7378, extension 130, or visit our Order Publications page:
http://www.servicelearning.org/pubs/.
Learn and Serve America
Learn and Serve America provides an "on ramp" to a lifetime of civic engagement for more than a million students each year. Learn and Serve America provides direct and indirect support to K-12 schools, community groups and higher education institutions to facilitate service-learning projects by:
- Providing grant support for school-community partnerships and higher education institutions;
- Providing training and technical assistance resources to teachers, administrators, parents, schools and community groups;
- Collecting and disseminating research, effective practices, curricula, and program models; and
- Recognizing outstanding youth service through the Presidential Freedom Scholarship, President’s Volunteer Service Awards and other programs.
http://www.learnandserve.gov/
Service-learning programs can offer parents and families the opportunity to participate in innovative learning experiences, and to become engaged in their children’s schools in unique ways. This Quick Guide looks at some of the research that shows that parental involvement benefits youth, and provides resources on parent involvement in service-learning.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/quick_guides/
family_k-12/
Hot Topic: Getting Started
Find recommended resource items, many available online, on getting started in service-learning.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/hot_topics/
getting_started/
What is Service-Learning?
Not quite sure what service-learning is and how it’s different from community service? Check out this resource which discusses the definition, benefits, and characteristics of quality service-learning and provides resources for further reading.
http://www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/service-learning_is/
Why Districts, Schools, and Classrooms Should Practice Service-Learning
Highlighted here are some key reasons why districts, schools and classrooms should practice service-learning. Print out this resource and take it to your child’s teachers, school board or PTA meeting to providing convincing reasons for how service-learning benefits both students and communities.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/why/
Resources for Kids and Teens
This page draws together selected resources your child can use to get involved in service-learning. It includes resources for elementary, middle, high school students, and graduating seniors. You can also find information and resources for parents and k-12 teachers.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/kids_teens/
Where to Find Service-Learning / Volunteer Opportunities in Your Area
The websites of the following organizations will allow you to search for volunteering and/or service-learning opportunities in your area, by state, city, or zip code.
Learn and Serve America Grantee Program Directory
http://www.servicelearning.org/
instant_info/program_directory/
Corporation for National and Community Service - National Service in Your State
http://www.nationalservice.org/
about/role_impact/state_profiles.asp
Global Youth Service Day
http://www.gysd.net
Hands on Network
http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
Network for Good
http://www.networkforgood.org/
volunteer/
Points of Light – Volunteer Centers Directory
http://www.pointsoflight.org/
centers/find_center.cfm
ServeNet
http://servenet.org/
Volunteer Match
http://www.volunteermatch.org
The websites of the following organizations will allow you to search for volunteering and/or service-learning opportunities in your area, by state, city, or zip code.
Learn and Serve America Grantee Program Directory
http://www.servicelearning.org/
instant_info/program_directory/
Corporation for National and Community Service - National Service in Your State
http://www.nationalservice.org/
about/role_impact/state_profiles.asp
Global Youth Service Day
http://www.gysd.net
Hands on Network
http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
Network for Good
http://www.networkforgood.org/
volunteer/
Points of Light – Volunteer Centers Directory
http://www.pointsoflight.org/
centers/find_center.cfm
ServeNet
http://servenet.org/
Volunteer Match
http://www.volunteermatch.org
After-School Programs and Service-Learning
Many after-school and out-of-school programs have service or service-learning components built right in. For more information on service-learning in after-school programs, see the NSLC Hot Topic “After-School and Out-of-School Time”:
http://www.servicelearning.org/
instant_info/hot_topics/after-school/
Here are just a few of the organizations that might already have opportunities for service-learning in your community:
4H Council
http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/
4HCurriculumSummit/projects/
servicelearning/
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
http://www.bgca.org/
Campfire USA
http://www.campfire.org/
all_about_us/service_learning.asp
Girl Scouts of America
http://www.girlscouts.org/
YMCA
http://www.ymca.net/
Many after-school and out-of-school programs have service or service-learning components built right in. For more information on service-learning in after-school programs, see the NSLC Hot Topic “After-School and Out-of-School Time”:
http://www.servicelearning.org/
instant_info/hot_topics/after-school/
Here are just a few of the organizations that might already have opportunities for service-learning in your community:
4H Council
http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/
4HCurriculumSummit/projects/
servicelearning/
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
http://www.bgca.org/
Campfire USA
http://www.campfire.org/
all_about_us/service_learning.asp
Girl Scouts of America
http://www.girlscouts.org/
YMCA
http://www.ymca.net/
PTA's National Standards for Family/School Involvement
You already know that PTA encourages parent involvement in the schools. But did you know that PTA encourages community involvement in the school?
One of the PTA's six National Standards for Family-School Partnerships is Collaborating with Community. The PTA recognizes that collaboration with the community strengthens schools, families, and student learning. Service-learning is an excellent way to foster partnerships with the community. Help your child help the community!
Visit www.pta.org to get involved today.
You already know that PTA encourages parent involvement in the schools. But did you know that PTA encourages community involvement in the school?
One of the PTA's six National Standards for Family-School Partnerships is Collaborating with Community. The PTA recognizes that collaboration with the community strengthens schools, families, and student learning. Service-learning is an excellent way to foster partnerships with the community. Help your child help the community!
Visit www.pta.org to get involved today.
For Further Information…
What is Service-Learning? A Guide for Parents
(Written by Cathryn Berger Kaye)
Parental involvement is one of the most important factors in student success. A companion piece to Learn and Serve America’s popular service-learning public service announcement, Bring Learning to Life, this 6-page guide provides information on the definition and benefits of service-learning as well as practical steps that parents can take to ensure service-learning is a part of their child’s education.
The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action. Cathryn Berger Kaye. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2004.
A comprehensive resource for teachers, youth workers, and parents, this resource covers service-learning planning and implementation, with over 300 examples of service-learning scenarios.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=5505
Family Volunteer Day Guidebook. Points of Light Foundation. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation, 2004.
This guidebook is designed to help families with service project planning for National Family Volunteer Day. It includes information on project development, media relations, as well as additional resources to help families find and carry out volunteer projects.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7270
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
The mission of NCPIE is to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people. The website provides information and resources to help parents do just that.
http://www.ncpie.org
Parent Involvement in Service Learning. Cathryn Berger Kaye. Clemson, SC: National Dropout Prevention Center, 1998.
This publication offers ideas to involve parents in supporting service-learning in schools and engaging in service-learning as a family. This resource gives specific examples of how parents' interest can be fostered and activities that they can participate in and stresses that service habits begin in the home.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=1669
What is Service-Learning? A Guide for Parents(Written by Cathryn Berger Kaye)
Parental involvement is one of the most important factors in student success. A companion piece to Learn and Serve America’s popular service-learning public service announcement, Bring Learning to Life, this 6-page guide provides information on the definition and benefits of service-learning as well as practical steps that parents can take to ensure service-learning is a part of their child’s education.
The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action. Cathryn Berger Kaye. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2004.
A comprehensive resource for teachers, youth workers, and parents, this resource covers service-learning planning and implementation, with over 300 examples of service-learning scenarios.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=5505
Family Volunteer Day Guidebook. Points of Light Foundation. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation, 2004.
This guidebook is designed to help families with service project planning for National Family Volunteer Day. It includes information on project development, media relations, as well as additional resources to help families find and carry out volunteer projects.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7270
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education The mission of NCPIE is to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people. The website provides information and resources to help parents do just that.
http://www.ncpie.org
Parent Involvement in Service Learning. Cathryn Berger Kaye. Clemson, SC: National Dropout Prevention Center, 1998.
This publication offers ideas to involve parents in supporting service-learning in schools and engaging in service-learning as a family. This resource gives specific examples of how parents' interest can be fostered and activities that they can participate in and stresses that service habits begin in the home.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=1669
