First Blog Post

Wow!  Today we set up our google acount and went through a few blogs to sample style, content and purpose.  We ran out of time for posting so I get to make the first entry!  My name is Denise and I am the school social worker and service learning coordinator here at John Dewey Learning Academy.  We are a small alternative high school serving rural northeast Kansas.  I have four students in my class which is called, "Service Learning".  Service Learning is an instructional technique which incorporates academic instruction with community based service that is connected to, reinforces or extends the academic instruction.  In other words, it is hands on, real world practice of our skills! So... the goal of the class is to plan and guide our school wide service learning as well as to complete some small class size projects.  We will also attempt to write at least one or two blog entries each week sharing our struggles, challenges, triumphs and learning!

Our first project is actually a yearlong project - in fact, it is a multi-year project/partnership.  We visit the Topeka Rescue Mission once a month to serve lunch.  We have been doing this for several years now.  Check them out at http://trmonline.org/!  They are an amazing not for profit agency serving three meals five days a week and two meals two days a week to anyone who walks into their building.  They provide MANY other services to individuals and families.  JDLA students have many academic links to homelessness throughout the year. 

SOOOOO..... our first visit to TRM included three of the students in my class of four.  Today I asked them to answer these questions:  *what should the other students who are going to go to TRM the first time know *what was challenging for you  * what was good  *how did it feel to be helpful to others and they answered... 

Jacob said:  They are nice there, don't drop the food, be polite, understand that they might have some troubles and be patient, wear a hat.  What was challenging for you? Being polite was somewhat challenging because some people were rude but most were nice.  The food was good and most people were polite.  It felt good to help others because they need help more than some.

Jon said:  I was challenged to stay focused when my hunger tried to take over.  The other challenge was not to scratch my head while wearing a hairnet!  It felt very great!  I was real excited to be able to help people who don't have much.  It felt as if I was doing something that makes a difference, no matter how small.

Robby said:  I think it was pretty easy to serve at the TRM.  All I did was serve a spoonful of peas.  The only thing that was challenging was not touching other things than the food with my gloved hands.  Everytime I had to itch I had to remove my glove.  The beans were really good!  It felt good to be able to help others by serving people.  In fact, I'd like to do it again!

Denise said:  Yay!  Service Learning!