I had the opportunity to complete 7 hours of service learning at the Chandler Boys & Girls Club. This paper is a reflection of the experiences I had while interacting with the children there.
Together We Can Do So Much
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This quotation, by Helen Keller, perfectly sums up what I learned while completing service learning this semester at the Chandler Boys & Girls Club. I came to understand that sometimes children just need someone to interact with them and listen to their stories. I believe that they can learn more working with others than by themselves.
I had the opportunity to get involved with the children while playing basketball during gym class. There was a small boy, named *Tommy, who was being pushed around by the older students. They would not let him play, so I got a basketball for him and we shot hoops together. He was not making any shots, so I gave him advice to aim for the white square. He made the next basket and quite a few shots afterwards. We had a friendly competition and he beat me by one point. We got to know each other really well as we spent time talking to each other. I am glad I was there, or he might not have been included in the any of the games.
In the Computer Clubhouse, I helped Tommy build objects out of Legos. He attempted to make a fancy car, but it turned into a poorly built car of the future. Nonetheless, he was so proud of his creation, playing with it for over an hour. He and some other boys started racing their designs upon the table in the center of the room. I enjoyed watching them, and encouraging them to stretch their imaginations.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with a few girls while they were on the computer. They visited a website that allowed them to dress Barbie and her friends in various clothing. I could not believe how much they enjoyed playing that game. I began interacting with some of the girls. I asker them questions like “Why did you choose that shirt?” and “What colors would go good with this jacket?” I wanted to understand their thinking and perhaps encourage them to think on higher levels.
In the computer lab, I noticed some of the students were playing a program titled Book Worm Deluxe. They had to form words of at least three letters and then the definition would appear telling them what the word meant. I was helping a couple older girls with it, and by the time I left almost everyone was playing it. I think since they saw me enjoying the game and helping others play it, they all wanted my attention to assist them in Book Worm. I was glad to see them switch activities because the other games they had been using were not that educational.
I learned a lot about myself while doing service learning at the Chandler Boys & Girls Club. Once I was actively engaged in their activities, I had a blast! I now realize the importance of having after-school programs for students, allowing them to be properly supervised and receive extra encouragement. I am looking forward to future service learning placements to continue learning more about the field of education and about myself because as Francis Bacon boldly declared, “Knowledge is power.”
*Name has been changed
*Graphics
Lego car photograph from the website: http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/legos/legos.html
Girl on Computer graphic from Big Box of Art CD
All other graphics from Microsoft Office Clip Art
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