Week One:

What an exciting week! Like most first weeks of school, it was filled with confusion, stress, new friendships, and learning experiences that I will never forget. In my Reading 091 class, we took a few personality tests to find out more about ourselves. I learned that I am a visual learner. This has helped me with different studying techniques in my personal life and in different classes that I am currently in. Mostly because I now know that I need to be more creative when it comes to studying. For example, I remember easier when I see a picture, rather than words. Ergo, when I am attempting to study, something like flashcards would be best for me. In class, we were preparing for our sessions with the students for Service Learning. When I first heard that we would be reading to children, I was pretty nervous. I had no idea what it would be like reading to kids I do not even know. I immediately began wondering which books I would choose to read to the kids, if they would like me, if they would even listen to me. I decided on a picture book that I grew up loving: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. I knew that it would most likely be too young for the kids I would be reading to, but I had faith in the materials that I was preparing. I knew enough about imagery and tone to teach sixth-graders. In conclusion, the first week was an exciting learning experience for me.

Week Two:

This week was so much fun! All my fears about Service Learning disappeared! On June 14, 2011, I met the students I would be reading to. The kids were amazing. They listened to me, read with me, and talked with me. It only took about five minutes before I considered each of them my friend. They all enjoyed my first book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Even if it was a little young for them, they all participated in the craft that I had set up for them. When we finished the book, I had them draw a picture of a happy, sad, angry, and beautiful butterfly. I then had them all tell me why they chose the specific colors and designs for each butterfly. Without knowing it, they were using their own kind of tone, which was one of the vocabulary words for them. The second time I met with the same kids was on Thursday, June 16, 2011. I read the book, “The Stinky Cheese Man, and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” by Jon Sciezka. This hilarious picture book was a hit for these children. They loved learning about different point of views and bias opinions. Although there was not a specific craft for this book, they still enjoyed laughing at the stories in this book. Altogether, the second week was so much fun and a huge success!

Week Three:

It finally happened. Something bad came up with the Service Learning. I received an email saying that we were having a celebration. I assumed this meant that we would not need to get to the library to read to the students on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. I was incorrect. I arrived at the library at 10:30, just in time for my third student to meet with me, but not soon enough for my first two students. Not only were they upset, but I was upset, as well. I truly love reading to them and talking with them. So when I was not there for the first two students, I felt genuinely disappointed in myself and the email for leading me astray. However, I redeemed myself with the last two children I could meet with that day by reading them the book, “No Dinner!: The Story of the Old Woman and the Pumpkin,” by Jessica Souhami. I taught them about narrative modes. They enjoyed this book and were excited to learn, like they always are.  On Thursday, June 23, 2011, I read the book, “The Blues of Flats Brown,” by Walter Dean Myers and taught the kids about author’s main ideas and details. They really enjoyed reading the book with me. I would read a page and then hand it over to them. I think it kept them more involved and focused. I wish I had done that the other weeks because they seemed to like it a lot. The most rewarding thing about this past week, even all of the weeks, was when the kids handed me a little thank you card. It made me smile thinking of how much just a few books and a few laughs can effect someone’s life. I am so happy to have had this experience.