Service Learning Reflective Report #1 Eric Schepper Ivy Tech

Service Learning Reflective Report #1 Introduction The Elementary school that I have been assigned to for service learning is IPS 58 a!"!a! Ralph #aldo Emerson! I am assigned to $ana %rbane" &hom a fo'rth grade class of abo't () children! I have not been inside of a fo'rth grade classroom since I &as in fo'rth grade myself! *side from the memories that this e+perience has stirred 'p it is interesting and stim'lating to be observant of ho& the school f'nctions as a &hole internally and in its local comm'nity! In this the first of t&o reflective reports abo't the pro,ect I &ill e+pand 'pon &hat I have perceived abo't the IPS 58 th's far! #hat I &ill foc's on is the -limate.-'lt're of the school the Environment of the b'ilding itself and the Programs /ffered to the st'dents and their families! Climate/Culture IPS 58 is located at (01 1! Lin&ood *ven'e Indianapolis I1! 2eca'se of the neighborhood I anticipated most of the st'dents and staff to have adopted the lo&er3class stereotypes s'ch as being mildly 'nfriendly! Tho'gh 'pon entering the b'ilding I &as greeted by t&o of the friendly office secretaries! I &as relieved to be &elcomed and most of my nervo'sness abo't the 'pcoming day &ent a&ay! *nother c'lt'ral attrib'te that st'c" o't to me &as the st'dents4 verbal

tendencies! 5ort'nately I haven4t heard any of the st'dents s&earing at each other yet b't their overall grammar and sentence str'ct're is lac"ing even considering their respective age gro'ps! Too often I4ve been ta"en abac" by hearing a st'dent say 6ain4t6 or 6a+6 7instead of 6as"68 Building Atmosphere *nother thing that &ent against my pre3conceived ideas of the school &as ho& ne& the b'ilding &as! They have implemented many sec'rity feat'res s'ch as an intercom system at the front door a detailed chec"3in comp'ter in the office and several sec'rity cameras! *lso the teachers themselves are e9'ipped &ith microphones and comp'ter tablets so that all st'dents can see and hear &hat they sho'ld be learning! The school has ( floors ho'sing a library a gymnasi'm and a cafeteria! *lso the hall&ays are lined &ith many cor" board displays! These displays feat're things s'ch as st'dents4 art&or" and seasonal activity calendars! Programs Offered 2eca'se of the economic sit'ation of most of the st'dents4 families the school offers n'mero's e+trac'rric'lar and food programs to its comm'nity! The biggest program offered by IPS 58 is the after3school program! #ith this st'dents are able to register to stay at the school from dismissal 'ntil :;)) pm! #hile it4s not offered on 5ridays the st'dents have opport'nities to participate in a variety of cl'bs and activities as &ell as one3on3one t'toring! This program is ideal for st'dents &hose parents or g'ardians don4t get home from &or" before they get home from school! Transportation from the school to their homes is also provided! Conclusion So far my e+perience at IPS 58 has been a learning one! I have been e+posed to a &ide variety of st'dents of different races and economic bac"gro'nds! I find it interesting to compare the val'es and overall str'ct're of my old elementary school to this one and to reminisce on my o&n positive and even negative fo'rth grade e+periences I am reminded of so often &hile &ith the st'dents! I am very e+cited to complete the second half of the program and to connect &ith the st'dents!