FAWN TRACKS

Leaving Footprints on Our Community

Finding Purpose through Service

The Fawn Tracks program will strive to integrate meaningful community service with instruction and reflection in an effort to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and to strengthen our school community.

6th Grade Social Studies Each class will choose and implement a service

learning project before the end of the year.

The length of the project will be one six week grading period.

Chapter. 113. TEKSSocial Studies Subchapter B. Middle School 113.18, Grade 6 Citizenship

Fawns Tracks implementation through 6th grade Social Studies will be an extension of former President George H.W. Bush’s Points of Light program that was established in 1990 and continues today.

Fawn Tracks Program will utilize the student version of Points of Light called Generation On.org

http://www.pointsoflight.org/who-we-are/our-history

http://www.generationon.org/

Benefits for students Meaningful, real world experiences

Cooperative learning and teambuilding

Problem solving and critical thinking skills

Opportunity to strengthen peer/teacher relationships and increase school connectedness

Contributes to a positive school climate in which students feel safe-socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically

Feeling safe in schools powerfully promotes student learning and healthy development

School Connectedness Correlation One study revealed that the association between school climate and

levels of aggression is dependent upon each student’s feelings of connectedness to the school. (Wilson, 2004)

Research has revealed a positive correlation between school connectedness and self esteem. (Higher self esteem= less likely to become a victim of aggression)

There is a growing body of research that suggests that school connectedness alone is a powerful predictor of adolescent health and academic outcomes.

A series of studies revealed that school connectedness and a positive school climate is directly correlated with decreased student absenteeism in middle school.

Data Collection

Each student will take a pre- and post survey so it can determined if the service learning was a meaningful experience.

Survey information The survey questions will include items that will call for a

self assessment of each student’s:

Relationship skills Communication skills Feelings of school connectedness Self-esteem Leadership skills Feelings toward student relationships Feelings toward adult relationships Goal setting ability Time management skills Feelings of community connectedness

Attributes of Effective Service Learning Projects

They provide a genuinely needed community service. The service effectively addresses a problem rather than merely allowing students to feel good.

They offer students some choice. Students help decide on a project and have a role in planning the details.

They include opportunities for ongoing reflection. Students are encouraged to think and talk about their experiences throughout the project.

They end with some sort of celebration and sharing. Students celebrate their work and accomplishments.

Collaboration with Colleagues

Making connections across curriculum: resources for various service learning themes available for multiple subjects

Project Wisdom Lessons: Power of Service to Others, I’ll Volunteer, May I Help, and Not from Without

Social Studies teachers will report at the team meetings to keep staff informed of the ongoing service projects.

Bulletin board near staff sign in sheet with information and project needs

Staff Information Sheet

At this time please take a few minutes to complete your personal information sheet noting your own service learning experiences, skills, resources and community connections.

The Social Studies teacher will share your personal information sheet with their students (your current and future students) so that the class can think of ways of utilizing your contributions.

Famous Quotes about Service

Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege. John D. Rockefeller

There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. George H.W. Bush

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others. Gandhi

Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves. Helen Keller

The Fawn Tracks Program: Rigor, Relevance and… Russell

All children are born with an innate desire to want to be helpful, but not all of them are exposed to modeling or opportunities to engage in acts of service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwPMKcYEkmw

FAWN TRACKS

Leaving Footprints on Our Community