By Julie Rogers Bascom, Director of Learning and Leadership
Service-learning is a powerful tool for not only nurturing civic engagement and amplifying young voice but also an effective means to meet literacy standards.
Literacy benchmarks can vary based on the educational framework or guidelines adopted by a particular institution, school district, or region. However, many literacy projects align with common literacy standards that emphasize key skills and competencies.
At its core, service-learning is an educational approach that combines meaningful service with intentional learning objectives. It goes beyond traditional classroom instruction, encouraging students to apply academic knowledge and skills to real-world issues. In the context of literacy standards, service-learning becomes a dynamic avenue for students to develop critical reading, writing, and communication skills while actively contributing to their communities.
When incorporating service-learning to meet literacy standards, consider the following three steps:
- What is the standard or learning objective you want to meet?
- What is the community need you want to address while meeting the standard?
- What is the project you will launch to meet the need of the community and reach the learning outcome?
Standard to Need to Project
It’s common to be tempted to initiate a project right away, but this approach can inadvertently sideline the voices of the youth. Here are some examples demonstrating how this might manifest in both classroom and extracurricular settings with young learners.
| Standard/Outcomes | Need | Service-learning Project Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension: The ability to comprehend a variety of texts. | In response to concerns about youth reading preferences and book bans, a group of young individuals aspired to share what they read and why. | During homeroom, a youth-led cadre of students hosted a book club and storytelling workshop. The culminating event (Demonstration) is a “Book Report Out” inviting the community to learn about the students’ reading choices. |
| Writing Skills: Proficiency in various forms of writing such as narrative, expository, and persuasive. | A group of second graders want to improve their writing skills by addressing the issue of new students feeling invisible when they come to school. | After classroom discussions on loneliness and the experience of being the “new kid,” the second graders created a guide for newcomers, complete with illustrations. They expanded the initiative by establishing an ambassador program for new students. |
| Vocabulary Development: Teaching and expanding vocabulary to enhance language proficiency. | English language learners expressed a need for increased exposure to spoken language. | After consulting with a local immigrant leader, high school students hosted a weekly drop-in experience for elementary students seeking language enrichment. |
| Digital Literacy: Integrating skills related to navigating and evaluating information in digital formats. | Senior citizens were interested in expanding their internet skills, based on a conversation with a focus group held by 9th graders from an afterschool program. | Students interviewed the elders to get a baseline, designed a workshop, recruited other youth, and hosted a workshop at the community center for interested people to learn how to navigate the internet and set up social media accounts. There were lectures and demonstrations and hands-on opportunities to coach seniors on getting started. A follow up session is planned. |
Engaging in service-learning presents a powerful opportunity to meet literacy standards while prioritizing the voices of young people. By seamlessly incorporating real-life experiences into the educational process at any developmental stage, young people not only enhance crucial literacy skills but also foster a sense of civic responsibility and empowerment.
Have you witnessed a transformation in young people’s reading, writing, or vocabulary through a service-learning encounter? Are you pondering ways to establish meaningful links between literacy and service-learning? Feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation or discussion with one of our service-learning experts to explore strategies for connecting the dots in youth engagement!
