FAWN TRACKS Leaving Footprints on Our Community

Finding Purpose through Service  The Fawn Tracks program will strive to integrate meaningful community service with instruction and reflection in an effort to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and to strengthen our school community.

6 th Grade Social Studies  Each class will choose and implement a service learning project before the end of the year.  The length of the project will be one six week grading period.  Chapter TEKS Social Studies Subchapter B. Middle School , Grade 6 Citizenship

Fawns Tracks implementation through 6 th grade Social Studies will be an extension of former President George H.W. Bush’s Points of Light program that was established in 1990 and continues today.

Fawn Tracks Program will utilize the student version of Points of Light called Generation On.org are/our-history

Benefits for students  Meaningful, real world experiences  Cooperative learning and teambuilding  Problem solving and critical thinking skills  Opportunity to strengthen peer/teacher relationships and increase school connectedness  Contributes to a positive school climate in which students feel safe- socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically  Feeling safe in schools powerfully promotes student learning and healthy development

School Connectedness Correlation  One study revealed that the association between school climate and levels of aggression is dependent upon each student’s feelings of connectedness to the school. (Wilson, 2004)  Research has revealed a positive correlation between school connectedness and self esteem. (Higher self esteem= less likely to become a victim of aggression)  There is a growing body of research that suggests that school connectedness alone is a powerful predictor of adolescent health and academic outcomes.  A series of studies revealed that school connectedness and a positive school climate is directly correlated with decreased student absenteeism in middle school.

Data Collection  Each student will take a pre- and post survey so it can determined if the service learning was a meaningful experience.

Survey information  The survey questions will include items that will call for a self assessment of each student’s:  Relationship skills  Communication skills  Feelings of school connectedness  Self-esteem  Leadership skills  Feelings toward student relationships  Feelings toward adult relationships  Goal setting ability  Time management skills  Feelings of community connectedness

Attributes of Effective Service Learning Projects  They provide a genuinely needed community service. The service effectively addresses a problem rather than merely allowing students to feel good.  They offer students some choice. Students help decide on a project and have a role in planning the details.  They include opportunities for ongoing reflection. Students are encouraged to think and talk about their experiences throughout the project.  They end with some sort of celebration and sharing. Students celebrate their work and accomplishments.

Collaboration with Colleagues  Making connections across curriculum: resources for various service learning themes available for multiple subjects  Project Wisdom Lessons: Power of Service to Others, I’ll Volunteer, May I Help, and Not from Without  Social Studies teachers will report at the team meetings to keep staff informed of the ongoing service projects.  Bulletin board near staff sign in sheet with information and project needs

Staff Information Sheet  At this time please take a few minutes to complete your personal information sheet noting your own service learning experiences, skills, resources and community connections.  The Social Studies teacher will share your personal information sheet with their students (your current and future students) so that the class can think of ways of utilizing your contributions.

Famous Quotes about Service  Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege. John D. Rockefeller  There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. George H.W. Bush  The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others. Gandhi  Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Martin Luther King, Jr.  Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves. Helen Keller

The Fawn Tracks Program: Rigor, Relevance and… Russell All children are born with an innate desire to want to be helpful, but not all of them are exposed to modeling or opportunities to engage in acts of service. KcYEkmw

FAWN TRACKS Leaving Footprints on Our Community