Sustaining+Service+Learning


 * In Search of Sustainability**

Resources: Wisconsin Service Learning Network

Presented By:Jen Piscatelli, Independent Consultant, from outside of Denver, CO. Her focus is on the policy end of Service Learning. Her experience is in working with States and Districts

Why?
 * Improved outcomes for students
 * Continuity over time
 * High quality practice
 * Possibility for increased resources
 * Increased support for and from teachers
 * Better relationships with the community

Why did you get involved in Service Learning? Why is sustainability in your district important? What do you hope to gain from working with your colleagues in working on sustainability?
 * Micro Lab questions:**
 * Student engagement, citizenship
 * Otherwise it goes away, is dependent upon key people.
 * Needs to be supported, recognized.
 * Policy needs to recognize and support that this is part of who we are both in a school and community.
 * Strategies to succeed, even without funding
 * A plan to gain admin support
 * How to keep getting others involved

Strategies to Sustain Service Learning
 * Invite the curriculum planning committee in to observe a Service Learning Project
 * Get SL in the plan - easier to get funding for activities
 * Use Service Learning to address new program reforms
 * Raise the awareness with the School Board
 * Look at your district mission and vision statement
 * Active citizenship
 * Get it into the interview process

Professional Development Strategies
 * Regular opportunities for faculty and staff to receive service-learning trainings
 * Incentives to participate in trainings
 * Informal opportunities for teachers to check in, enhance practice
 * Teacher and staff individual development goals include service learning
 * Principals and district administrators attend service learning trainings

Keys to success for teachers
 * Time to work with the pedagogy
 * Having your team on board and a well functioning team
 * Informal collaboration time to learn from each other - round tables, SL meetings, sharing at a staff meeting
 * Reflection on the practice

Reflection:
 * Before, during and after
 * In a variety of learning stlyes, written, verbal, artistic,

Progress Monitoring

Community-School Collaborations
 * States with the most success, had policies for engaging in community partnerships
 * Laid out expectations
 * Required the two to meet to discuss
 * Revised expectations as they went along, adjust program as needed
 * Mechanisms to evaluate the partnership are in place
 * Allows you to see true deep collaborators vs. not
 * Districts and community partners share resources and trainings
 * Communicating about policies for working with children, risk management. Partner has policies.
 * Allows students to do off site learning

Characteristics of Successful Partnerships
 * There is a need
 * Partnerships are required for their skills
 * Consistent, people time, lasting relationships
 * Mutually beneficial
 * Students do the contacting, communicating
 * Partner understanding Service Learning and project

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Team Planning 1. Vision and Leadership a. Explore having the School Board include a statement of support for service learning (but not a mandate.) b. Seek to have a question about experience with service learning added to interview questions for new hires. c. Look for other grants to support service learning

2. Professional Development a. Have a session on service learning added to the menu of choices on staff development days b. Plan a schedule of sharing time for the team involved in service learning c. End each year with a reflection time for the service learning teachers

3. Community-School Collaborations a. Do community presentations about service learning in West Allis/West Milwaukee to groups like the Rotary Club. b. Use the wiki to share locally with each other and use the state website to share with the larger group. c. Connect with PTA/PTO/PTSA for parent support.

4. Curriculum and Assessment a. Changes in the elementary school report card will encourage service learning b. The district is moving to "continuum" plan of going deeper into learning rather than including so many topics that must be covered. Service learning will be a good pedagogy for this type of teaching. c. Plan to teach staff that research shows students achieve higher scores on test when they have greater depth of knowledge achieved through service learning.