First Prompt-My First Few Days Volunteering in a Elementary School

Today was my second experience as a volunteer in an elementary school in Providence but today for the first time I finally got to meet the teacher and students. A few days before I started my VIPS tutoring I had to take a ride by the elementary school I will be volunteering at because I wanted to make sure where I was going and I was not familiar with the area or neighborhood. *Sand Hill Cove Elementary School where I am tutoring is surrounded by a few other schools. It was a bit confusing at first and trying to figure out what school I will be at because the name of the school is on one side of the building, with some letters missing so that made it a little difficult trying to figure out if I was at the right school and if I was in the right area but then I finally figured it out. Sand Hill Cove is located in a very unpleasant and diverse neighborhood and alot different from the neighborhood I grew up in. While driving down the side streets before I entered the school parking lot I scrutinized the neighborhood around it. Down the side street I recognized a small convenient store that is all locked up and surrounded by bars. Right across from Sand Hill Cove Elementary School there are low-income housings and as soon as I pull into the parking lot I came across something I am very unfamiliar with. There is a white, van that is enclosed by a cage. These things are definitely not something I recognize in my neighborhood or where I grew up. Do to these observations I began to think to my self that I am in a very unpleasant/unsafe neighborhood. My nerves become a little tenser at this moment but at the same time I am also excited to start the new learning experience and working in a classroom.

My first day in entering the elementary school I was a little nervous. Before I could enter the school I had to press a button next to the doors so the office could let me in. This is something new and different to me because during my years of attending public schools nobody had to press a button before stepping into the school. As soon as I stepped into the first set of doors to Sand Hill Cove I was more excited and not as nervous anymore. As I walk through the doors I get a breeze to a fresh, clean environment. The school is very clean and looks like an ordinary, everyday school. It’s just like the schools I attended and that everyone else does. I did the original routine that all schools require when you are a new guest to the school; I walk into the building and sign in at the main office. But I do realize that the halls of the school are dim and not that bright. The secretaries and the teachers welcomed me to the school by saying “hello” with a smile on their face. It made me feel more comfortable and satisfied that this is going to be a safe place after all. Then, I got a short lesson by the literacy coach on exactly what learning activities I would be doing with my very own students.

Even though today was my second day as a volunteer in the elementary school it was my first actual day I got to meet the teacher and students I will be working with. When I entered into the second grade classroom each and every student all had a big smile on their face, they were adorable. Their teacher, *Mrs. Summer was working with them on words and sounds. She would call on a student one at a time and she would have them go up to the board and put their index card into the correct spot. The students seemed pretty focused on what they were learning and actually paying attention to the teacher, they were really following directions well as I was watching them after I steped into the classroom. You think they would have been distracted because I had just stepped into the classroom and was a new person to them, I was surprised. As they were finishing up their activity I was listening and observing the classroom. The classroom is a decent size for 20 students and a teacher. There are six tables in the middle of the class room that the students sit at. On the tables are their green notebooks and folders and white or blue pencil baskets in the center of the table where the students put their supplies in. Also, I noticed on the whiteboard the teacher had put math problems for the students to do and to complete in their notebook. Around the room there are many words written all over the white board, the alphabet, posters. So, I know that these teachers want to have thier students succeed and prepare them for the future. Right after they finished their activity there was a fire alarm and we were outside for almost a half-hour. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to work with the students because of this situation. But during the fire drill Mrs. Summer made her students sit in a single line. She recommended to her students to be quiet and sit with their hands folded in their lap. If they followed her directions they would be rewarded with a one dollar bill when they returned back to the classroom. Some of the students sat thier patiently while others were distracted by things around them. She began to raise her voice at the students and I was not pleased by how she reacted to them in such a mean way. As I looked at them when we returned back to the classroom and they were back at their seats some of the children look so happy to be at school while some of them look sad and it makes you feel so bad for them. On Thursday I will be going again and I can not wait. I am extremely eager and looking forward to working with the students in the classroom and in a teacher environment.

The star (*) indicates "made-up" names for the school and teacher. This is to keep the privacy of the real names.

About Me

Hi- my name is Jessica and I am now a junior at Rhode Island College. I am majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Social Studies. So far this semester my classes are going well. In my free time I love going to the beach, taking walks along the beach, being outside, going to get ice-cream, and just having fun. I also enjoy skiing and running too.