Service Learning

In my class, I was asked to participate in 15 hours of service learning in a classroom at a school. Most of our time must be spent inside a math classroom or a math setting like tutoring. My objective is to be able to make a connection  between what I am taught in class, and what I will doing in my own classroom once I become a certified teacher.  I was given this assignment on the first day of class.

This has been a hard assignment for me because in order to do service learning in classroom, you have to have a fingerprint clearance card. No problem. Well, the problem is that the card is $80 for Education students and that it takes 6-8 weeks to be processed and sent back. Well, a person such as myself I don't really have time to sit around and wait for a clearance card when I'm on a time crunch.

The past few weeks I have been a little stressed out, trying to find a school that doesn't require fingerprinting. I emailed about nine different principles in the Gilbert Public Schools district. I thought "OK, since I have emailed nine different schools, I have hear something." My Education teacher told me that Gilbert does not require fingerprinting, so I thought I was going to be a shoe-in and that I would be doing service learning by last week. The following day, my teacher then again told me that an "incident" had happened and now Gilbert requires all persons to be fingerprinted. Great!!

I was back to square one. I decided I was going to do the same thing but with Mesa School District. I decided I was going to email, again, at least nine principles. And I did. Within the hour I had received a few emails back but all of them stated that I needed to bring in my fingerprint clearance card. I thought to myself that I was going to be fail both of my courses that required service learning because I couldn't get place. Then the clouds opened up, and a Ms. Carey, from Adams Elementary in Mesa, called me on the phone and told me that she would love to have me in her classroom and that she couldn't wait to have an extra pair of hands!! I was ecstatic! I am so very happy that was persistent and didn't give up. I start this Wednesday I and I cannot wait to put my skills to work, and help her classroom full of 5th graders!! Wish me luck!!