Community Service Reflection
Robert John Meehan once said, “Life as a teacher begins the day you realize that you are
always a learner.” I feel as though this quote accurately describes my community service
experience. Completing my service hours helped me develop many skills that will be useful as an
educator. I learned the importance of meeting every student’s needs, making learning fun,
helping students at different skill levels, and managing time.
I volunteered in a second-grade classroom at West Central Elementary School in Hartford,
SD, for my community service hours. I volunteered during the afternoon or for the whole day.
One of my roles was to help students with any questions they had. Usually, when I arrived in the
classroom, they were working on math. So, while the teacher met with students individually, I
would go around the room and answer questions. I also got to lead reading groups. One group
would be with the teacher, one group would be with me, and the other groups would be on their
own. I also got to experience certain activities from the teacher’s perspective. For example, I
helped with recess duty.
This experience allowed me to grow considerably as a future educator. My time spent in
the classroom helped me become more aware of the skills needed to be an educator. One of these
skills is to be prepared to explain the information in more than one way. As I walked around the
room helping different students, I found that I often had to change my explanation based on the
student. For example, I may have had to verbally remind one student of the steps and help
another student draw a picture. Once I spent more time in the classroom, I found which strategies
worked best for each student. I now realize the importance of utilizing multiple strategies so all
students can learn, and I am glad I was able to start developing that skill.
I was also able to see the importance of brain breaks throughout the day. In the afternoon,
students got to spend time in “Boost-Up.” During “Boost-Up,” the students rotate through
stations, including monkey bars, trampolines, and building blocks. The stations change every
week, so the students don’t get bored with the activities. These activities are vital because they
allow students to let out energy, but they are still actively thinking.
Another good example is S.T.E.M. projects. I was able to watch students complete some
of the projects. The students didn’t think of the activities as learning but rather as having fun.
Therefore, I found that having projects like these listed are essential to keeping the students’
attention and making learning fun.
Leading different reading groups helped me grow as an educator because I was able to see
different levels of reading abilities. The student’s reading level determined what group they were
in, and I was able to work with each group at least once. By splitting them up based on reading
level, it was easier to cater to each student’s needs. As I led the group, I would ask questions
about the reading to check for comprehension. I had never done that before, so it was a great way
to practice and develop that skill. Leading the reading groups helped me understand that the
important thing is that students are improving, rather than the rate at which they are mastering
the skills.
As I spent time in the classroom, I began to see how important time management is.
Teachers have limited time to get through each topic or activity. Therefore, students need to stay
on task. I noticed that most of the assignments they completed were of reasonable length. I found
the assignment length is important so that students don’t zone out before finishing it. I also
learned how important it is for teachers to use the day productively. The teacher and I were
always doing something even when the students weren’t in the room. One useful strategy the
teacher I was with used was a volunteer group. They come in once a week and do various tasks
for the teachers. This volunteer group would be an example of something I would want to take
advantage of as an educator. This way, I could make better use of my time.
Overall, I learned many different skills that have helped me grow professionally. I also
learned some ways for how to redirect students if they get off track, how to integrate technology
into the classroom, and how to have fun while still being productive. This experience helped me
further understand and develop the skills needed to be a successful educator. I am grateful for the
skills I gained through my community service hours. I am excited to continue to learn and grow
as an educator.
