ED-Psy 487

Major Project

Developed by: Jane Blanton and Deb Brennan

 

 

K-12 School-Based Learn and Serve Grant

 

 

 

This Major Project was developed by Jane Blanton and Deb Brennan. The RFP is based on Service Learning. The project was developed to be incorporated at a Middle School (Grades Six, Seven and Eight) in the State of Illinois.

This project was developed to be used as an example of how Service Learning could be applied at the Middle School. Level. The district referenced in the grant application is not a true district. We developed the concept from information derived from past experiences with a Service Learning Grant that one of the writers had, and an interest that both of the writers had in further developing this opportunity for learners. One of the basic premises of this grant is that the district supports the grant with matching funds. In the past year, the experiences that we have referenced, include a basic awareness of what service learning is and minimal experiences of students creating information posters influenced by an Environmental Agency Project.  This project would enhance opportunities to develop intergenerational connections for interested community stakeholders, in addition to application of character development involving all stakeholders. At this point, local parochial schools are not interested in becoming a partner in this endeavor, although reports concerning the project will be shared with the one local parochial K-8 school in the area. We are excited about the opportunities for learners presented in this grant. It provided a vehicle to demonstrate the connection between service learning and characters standards that could be easily adapted to any middle school in any community.

 

Since the mid-1980’s, educators in K-12 schools have begun to discover the value

 of using service learning as a methodology to integrate real-world experiences into

curriculum. As Bruce Boston writes (1997), “Their reasoning is not based on some

vague moralistic sense that “it’s good for them,: but on solid evidence that service

 activities can be a galvanizing context and catalyst for acquiring the knowledge,

 skills, and attitudes students need for success, not only in their schoolwork, but in

the workplace and in life. Increasingly, the use of service as an academic activity

 (called “service learning”) is seen by educators and community leaders as a

 strategy with multiple payoffs:

-as a vehicle for learning and youth development,

-as a means to school improvement, and

-as a strategy for community renewal. (ASCD – Foundations of Service Learning, 1999).

           

           

 

 FY2001 RFP is available at:   http://www.isbe.net/learnserve/apply02.htm

 This RFP is being utilized as our model.

 The FY 2002 RFP is unavailable at this date.

 

 

            Sunny Heights Middle School believes in investing time and energy in a multi-grade (6,7,8) Service Learning Program that addresses identified needs throughout the community. It is the goal of the school community to provide opportunities for students to make a difference through service learning activities that incorporate the Illinois Learning Standards in areas of English/Language Arts, Character Standards, and Workplace Skills and Career Development Competencies (Illinois Learning Standards Appendix D). Service Learning opportunities that have taken place in the past, such as involvement in Environmental Protection Agency projects, and developing technology skills, have developed positive community connections and heightened involvement from all stakeholders. The hallmark of this project is for students to develop relationships with community members in establishing avenues to create books on tape to be available for children at a local women’s shelter, high school child care classes and a local children’s hospital. Throughout the project, students will work with senior members of the community in creating the products and developing reading and technology skills by having the books made into audio tapes (students reading and audio taping age-appropriate literature to community members), letters drafted on the computer to the recipients, and creation and editing of a video that will be created using AVIO equipment, made available to the community at the Village Hall and local Senior Centers, linked to the school website, and used as a community service announcement through connections with the local cable company for easy access to a larger audience. This project will enhance the development of community partnerships along with the opportunity to create connections with local shelters, hospitals and high school child care centers, in coordinating an effort to enhance reading literacy across intergenerational lines, apply practical applications of character development and emotional intelligence and establish an opportunity to share appropriate technology skills with senior and community members.

 

 

Proposal Abstract

(As stated in the RFP – grants will range between $2,000 and $8,000, rarely exceeding $10,000.)

1

FY2002 Grant Funding Request       (matching district funds)

$  6,000.00

2

What is he numerical population of the community involved in this project?

       750

3

What is the anticipated number of community members directly affected by this project?

       500

4

How many schools are involved in this project?

           1

5

Name(s) of project school(s)

Sunny Heights Middle School

6

How many students are enrolled in the school(s) involved in this project?

        550

7

How many staff members are employed at the school(s) involved in this project?

          52

8

Which student grade level(s) are involved in this project?

      6, 7, 8

9

What is the total number of students in this grade level(s) in question 8?

        550

10

What is the anticipated number of student participants in the grade level(s) in question 8?

        350

11

What is the total number of adult staff connected with the grade level(s) in question 8?

          52

12

What is the total number of adult staff/volunteer participants in the grade level(s) in question 8?

          12

 

13. State succinctly in a paragraph of fewer than 200 words exactly what this project will entail, including a list of the principal activities. This paragraph will be used as your project’s descriptor in a compilation of all funded projects for this fiscal year.

 

 

Sunny Heights Middle School has invested in developing a multi-grade Service Learning Program addressing community needs. It is the goal of the school community to provide opportunities for students to make a difference through service learning activities that address the Illinois Learning Standards and character development. The service learning opportunities to take place this year enhance service learning commitments of the past, and include students developing relationships with community members, including seniors to create books on tape to be made available for children at local shelters, high school child care classes and a local children’s hospital. Technology developments include creating and editing a multi-media presentation to be made available representing the project to the Village Hall, local Senior centers, local cable station and posting on the school website for easy access to a larger audience. This effort will enhance intergenerational reading literacy, apply practical applications of character development and establish community connections.

 

       

 

  1. Describe the characteristics of the community relevant to this project (that is, the community receiving the service), indicating who those characteristics are relevant to the proposed project.

 

Characteristics of community(ies) receiving service:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Describe the specific service needs of this community and how these were determined.

 

Specific Service Needs

How Determined

  • Develop ongoing interactions between middle school adolescents and senior citizens
  • Input from local senior center directors
  • Community, family comments
  • Coordinate a book project for residents of local shelter and hospital that will have seniors and middle school students create books on audio tapes in promotion of literacy
  • Newspaper articles read by students in advisory class
  • Community contacts
  • Promote reading literacy through community involvement
  • Reading scores of middle school students demand an increase of purposeful reading strategies
  • Organize a partnership with local senior centers where many have been forgotten, possibly including a reading night at one of the senior center to establish an awareness of the partnership
  • Information shared by community members and school families
  • Expand reading literacy along intergenerational lines
  • Reaction to national statistics on reading –stating that we are a nation at risk.
  • Model a structured service learning program that can be enhanced yearly with continued support
  • Administrators, community stakeholders and adolescent students
  • Provide opportunities for students who have little or no experience with real world technology to investigate possibilities
  • Student interest survey
  • Provide enhanced opportunities to apply character development skills
  • Character Standards movement, addressing specific goals (described in further sections)
  • Provide opportunities to develop video editing skills with community members, including partnering with AT&T Broadband to share the message with a larger audience
  • AT&T Community multi-media vignettes aired via local cable stations, free of charge

 

 

  1.  Describe the mechanism for determining the extent to which the needs outlined in Question 2 will have been met at the close of the project.

 

Assessing Program Processes

Assessing Program Outcomes

Methods of Evaluation

1. Participants/developers will assess the number, kind, place and frequency of activities

 

 

 

 

2. Participants/developers will look at resource adequacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Participants/developers will determine the quality of coordination, implementation, and management of programs.

 

4. Program manager and community will evaluate how the key components of the Illinois Learning Standards and Character Standards were used as part of the service experience.

 

 

 

5.Determine the adequacy of training and support.

3.      Students will develop an awareness of community issues and be able to apply school learning to real-life situations.

 

2. Students and adults will have the opportunity for interactions and attitudes to be shared throughout the project, including school climate, staff morale and participation in project and commitment.

 

 

3.Students and involved community members will complete surveys addressing how community needs have been met.

 

4. Students will be informally assessed by surveys, observation and performance along the lines of character development, esteem in adolescents, engagement in project and personal and social responsibility of students.

 

5. Surveys and journals will be used to assess growth and changes.

1. Students will maintain a journal of their service. Questionnaires will be administered to all participants in the service learning activities.

 

 

2. Students will produce a variety of projects, including multi-media, written letters, website, brochures and/or flyers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Students and community members will be involved in observations.

 

 

 

4. Students will commit to product reviews, e.g. presentations, video or multi-media project, books on tape, flyers, brochures, and local cable television products for assessment of involvement of the project.

 

 

5. Student activity will be evaluated through project-designed rubrics.

 

 

  1. Describe the specific learning need(s) of the students who will be providing service in this project.

 

The specific learning needs of the students who will be providing service in this project, which will be addressed through authentic assessments tasks include:

 

 

 

 

5.A. For the students providing the service, list the Illinois Learning Standards (by number) or list the elements in individual educational plans, individual optional educational plans, and/or state or national vocational skill standards to be addressed by this project.

 

English/Language Arts:

1A3a:  Analyze the meaning of words and phrases in their context.

1B3d:  Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy.

2B3c:  Analyze how characters in literature deal with conflict, solve problems and relate to real-life situations.

3A3:   Write compositions that contain complete sentences and effective paragraphs using English conventions.

3Ba:   Produce documents that convey a clear understanding and interpretation of ideas and information and display

          focus, organization, elaboration and coherence.

3B3b: Edit and revise for word choice, organization, consistent point of view and transitions among paragraphs using

          contemporary technology and formats suitable for submission and/or publication.

3C3a: Compose narrative, informative, and persuasive writings (news articles, correspondence) for a specified

          audience.

3C3b: Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.

4A3d: Demonstrate the ability to identify and manage barriers to listening.

4B3a:  Deliver planned oral presentations, using language and vocabulary appropriate to the purpose, message and

           audience, and use visual aids and contemporary technology as support.

4B3b: Design and produce reports and multimedia compositions that represent group products.

4B3c: Develop strategies to manage or overcome communication anxiety and apprehension.

4B3d: Use verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to maintain communications and to resolve conflict.

5A3a:  Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research.

5A3b: Design a product related to contemporary issues (e.g. real-world math, career development, and community

           service) using multiple sources.

5B3a:  Choose and analyze information sources for individual, academic and functional purposes.

5B3b: Identify, evaluate and cite primary sources.

5C3a: Plan, compose, edit and revise documents that synthesize new meaning gleaned from multiple sources.

5C3b: Prepare and orally present original work (e.g. poems, monologues, reports, plays, stories) supported by

           research.

5C3c: Take notes, conduct interviews, organize and report information in oral, visual and electronic formats.

 

Character principles: Eleven principles of effective character education:

 1. Character education promotes core ethical values as the basis of good character.

 2. Character is comprehensively defined to include thinking, feeling and behavior.

 3. Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that promotes the core values

     in all phases of school life.

 4. The school is a caring community.

 5. To develop character, the school provides students opportunities for moral action.

 6. Effective character education includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps

     them succeed.

 7. Character education should strive to develop students’ intrinsic motivation for developing good character.

 8. The school staff is a learning and moral community in which all share responsibility for character education and attempt to 

     adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.

 9. Staff and students demonstrate moral leadership.

10 The school recruits parents and community members as full partners in the character-building effort.

11. Evaluation of character education assesses the character of the school, the school staff’s functioning as character

      educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.

 

Workplace Skills and Career Development Competencies (Illinois Learning Standards Appendix D)

 

5.B. Discuss briefly the three most important of the standards/goals listed for Question 5A. How will these be furthered or met specifically via the service-learning project?

 

The Sunny Heights Middle School service-learning model provides experiences which allow our adolescents to grow and develop through the active participation in student and teacher initiated activities that will (1) meet community needs; (2) integrate parts of the established academic curriculum; (3) provide a structured time for students to think, talk, write and reflect about their service learning experiences; (4) offer the students opportunities to use newly acquired academic skills and knowledge in real-life situations by being actively involved in their community; (5) enhance what is taught in the school by extending student learning beyond the walls of the classroom; and (6) help to foster a sense of caring and social and emotional learning.

 

The three (3) most important standards/benchmarks that will be used to accomplish these goals are:

 

English/Language Arts (Writing) – State Goal 4:

Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.

4B3a Deliver planned oral presentations, using language and vocabulary appropriate to the purpose, message and audience; provide details and supporting information that clarify main idea; and use visual aids and contemporary technology as support.

  • Establish affirming relationship with senior centers, village hall representatives, childcare centers and shelter contacts.
  • Compose letters to recipients of books on tape.
  • Develop skills in working with intergenerational contacts.
  • Student partnership with local cable station in presenting project.
  • Develop media presentations detailing project.

 

 

English Language Arts – State Goal 5:

Use Language Arts to acquire, assess and communicate information

5C3c Take notes, conduct interviews, organize and report information in oral, visual and electronic formats.

  • Compose public service announcements regarding Service Learning Project to be posted in brochures, prepared for local cable station and posted on school web site.
  • Write letters to seniors inviting them to be part of the project.
  • Compose letters to recipients of books on tape.
  • Develop flyers and brochures describing project to the media and for National Learn and Serve Organization.
  • Complete on-going journal entries based on experiences.

 

 

Effective Character Education

             Character education Quality Standards most addressed.

  • Effective character education requires an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that promotes the core values in all phases of school life.
  • The school is a caring community.
  • To develop character, the school provides students opportunities for moral action.
  • The school recruits parents and community members as full partners in the character-building effort.

 

 

 

6.  Describe the mechanism for determining the extent to which the needs outlined in Question 4 will have been met at the close of the project. How will student learning via this project be assessed? What methods will be used to determine how the proposed project successfully connected with the listed Illinois Learning Standards, individual education plans, individual optional educational plans, and/or state or national vocational skill standards?

 

The Illinois Learning Standards will serve as a resource that provides focus, phrasing and expectations, which will guide the learning and assessment process of the service-learning endeavor. It is through the service-learning activities that students will produce evidence of learning. Service-learning activities will be provided that address specific standards and result in student products and performances that can be used to evaluate achievement of those standards. The language of the standard and specific benchmark will be used when students and teachers work together to develop rubrics, which will let students know how the benchmark will be addressed and achieved and ways to move to the next level of the benchmark. Throughout the project, constant feedback will be offered through discussions, journals, surveys and written opportunities dealing with the quality of their work to clarify for each student what he/she needs to do to achieve the targeted standard. This use of linking assessment to inform instruction will provide timely information that can be used to improve teaching and learning in the context of the service-learning projects.

 

 

  1.  If this is a request for renewal or continuation of grant funding, indicate her how many years service-learning finding through this grant has received. This grant was initiated last year in the following amounts toward development of an awareness of the concept of service learning.

 

                                 1 year FY2000 in amount of:       $ 1500.00

                                 ** Matching District funds:      $ 1500.00

                                      Total Projects Amount:           $ 3000.00  

 

  1. Whether this is a first year proposal or a renewal proposal, describe why the LEA needs (additional) funds to begin/continue/complete this project. What is being done or will be done to incorporate service learning (either this project or the methodology generally) into the curriculum of the school or district permanently? When is grant independence established?

 

Our involvement with the FY2000 Learn and Serve Initiative allowed only a small core group of teachers to increase their knowledge and skills for integrating service learning into the curriculum. To ensure the continued enthusiasm for the precepts of service-learning to continue and create an inviting atmosphere within a larger context of students and community stakeholders continues, we are requesting additional funds as a renewal grant to expand existing programs dealing with identified community needs, as well as initiate the following new programs which will involve an increase number of staff members:

 

 

 

Local, state and federal funds have previously been earmarked for specific curriculum area improvements and staff development. The administration, staff and students are committed to service learning and to ensuring that it will be incorporated into the curriculum of the school permanently as well as working toward grant independence. This will be accomplished by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. What external partners will be involved in this project, and/or with what other programs, initiatives, etc. will this project be associated? Describe the role of this partner (these partners) in the project. The principal partner should complete the appropriate section on the Proposal Cover Sheet. (The Principal Partner is stated  (see #10) as Principal Administrator.) The actual cover sheet is not attached as any district interested in applying for this grant would submit their individual cover sheet with personnel normally responsible for grant administration.

 

Community Partnerships

Project

Personnel

Adult/Senior Centers

Students look at issues facing senior citizens, present a flyer or brochure describing the anticipated project; Students work with community members in technology training and reading literacy

Identified Teachers

Community members

Asst Principal/Grant Developer to coordinate project with staff members and community liaisons

 

AT&T Broadband Cable Station

Partnership with local cable station to air multi-media presentation on local access to community to establish an awareness of project

Identified Teachers

Asst Principal/Grant Developer

Local cable station liaison

 

Women’s Shelter

Students and community seniors prepare books on tape with personalized letters

Identified Teachers

Asst Principal/Grant Developer

Community liaisons

Local High School Child Care Classes

Students and community seniors prepare books on tape with personalized letters

Identified Teachers

High School responsibility education coordinator

Hope Children’s Hospital

Students and community seniors prepare books on tape with personalized letters

Identified Teachers

Grant Developer/Liaison

Village Hall

Students and community members create multi-media project and flyers, brochures to establish an awareness of the project

Identified Teachers

Grant Developer/Liaison

Village representative

School District

Students create web page with use of digital tools and create/edit video to highlight the project

Identified Teacher

Technology Coordinator

Community members

 

 

 

The Sunny Heights Middle School Service Learning Program will also be associated with the Safe School Project Initiatives Program, Problem-Base Learning approaches and the Career to Education Development Program.

 

  1. Who are the principal staff administering this project and what are their qualifications and/or experience related to service learning?

 

The building Assistant Principal and District Grant Development Coordinator

will coordinate the supervision and administration of this program.

 

Qualifications and experience of the administering staff include:

 

All of the identified teachers from Sunny Heights Middle School have received initial training dealing with Service Learning including the Illinois K-12 Learn and Serve Conference and the AIMS Middle Level Conference. They also attended the Students Learning Through Service Workshop presented locally by National Learn and Serve Leaders.

 

  1. What is the timeline for activities connected with this project?

 

Project Description

September 2001 through May 2001

 

  • September and October
  • Review/organize service-learning curriculum ideas for introduction to staff and students. Begin staff training and initiation to service learning concept.
  • Identified teachers
  • Assistant Principal
  • Grant Development Coordinator

 

 

  • September,

            ongoing

  • Identify potential community partnerships and meet with representatives to discuss project framework.
  • Identified teachers
  • Assistant Principal
  • Grant Development Coordinator
  • October through November
  • Begin partnerships with senior centers, local high school childcare classes, children’s hospital and women’s shelter and identify roles of participants.
  • Identified teachers
  • November,  

            ongoing

  • Use Advisory meetings (in all middle school classes) to determine components of project. Student commitments and community partnerships will also be established.
  • Identified teachers
  • Grant development coordinator
  • Teachers advisors
  • Students
  • Parent members
  • November,

            ongoing

  • Begin working with students to develop projects; purchase needed materials; establish community partnerships; host training sessions for community members; create flyers or brochures defining project for dissemination.
  • Continue staff development of service learning by designing standards-based curriculum.
  • Identified teachers
  • Teacher advisors
  • Students
  • Parent members
  • Community contacts
  • December,

            ongoing

  • Work with students, staff and community members in project development; schedule regular sessions
  • Identified teachers
  • Teacher advisors
  • Students
  • Parent members
  • Community contacts
  • January,

           ongoing

  • Establish regular sessions with community contacts, cable company representatives and students;
  • Assess and refine project as needed.
  • Provide assistance and information to facilitate the professional development of teachers to service learning.
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Community members
  • Grant development coordinator
  • January,

            ongoing

  • Begin to develop public service announcement and additional media links regarding scope of project; create flyers and brochures highlighting project describing project scope.
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Community members
  • Grant development coordinator
  • February,

            ongoing

  • Continue to design project addressing community needs; students share project through other advisory classes; students create newsletter/newspaper/journal article; training of community members/students in use of AVIO video editing machine and work with cable company to introduce students to careers and expose them to further education and training.
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Grant development coordinator
  • March,

            ongoing

  • Develop web page to disseminate project experiences, along with the creation and editing of a video to highlight the project.
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Grant development coordinator
  • Technology integration coordinator
  • Community members
  • April,

            ongoing

 

  • Continue to assess the project; design evaluation form to address future of project; disseminate project via cable station and local media sources; teachers attend local conference.
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • Grant development coordinator
  • Technology integration coordinator
  • (At&T Broadband) or local cable station
  • May,

            continue to next FY

  • Assess service-learning program and develop ways to expand program in FY03; celebrate success. *This addresses the continued commitment of the district in sustaining the project and will determine if application of the grant for the next fiscal year will be promoted.
  • Teachers
  • Assistant principal
  • Students
  • Grant development coordinator
  • Community members

 

 

 

Budget Summary and Payment Schedule:

 

Expenditure Account

Salaries

Purchased Services

Supplies and Materials

Capital Outlay

Total

 Line 1

 

Function Number 1000

 

Instruction

1200.00

 

1800.00

500.00