Slightly Off KIlter

I volunteered for Junior Achievement in November #151; five Tuesday, half an hour each, in a local second grade class. You can read the whys and wherefores in two parts in my regular weblog, Slightly Off Kilter (
Part 1 and Part 2). I’ll post my thoughts on the activities here in commentary.

I was 10 minutes early; I didn’t know how long it would take to get there from work.

The first activity is was “What is a Community?” with a worksheet (with truly abysmal artwork) and stickers. I did my best to channel my mother and involve the kids. I think they enjoyed it. If nothing else, it was different. I don’t really think they learned much but I think they had a good time. (I’m less sure of their teacher. I feel that I was rather abruptly dismissed at the end).

I’m not entranced with the program as it’s laid out in the booklet nor am I very happy with the materials. I was surprised and dismayed to learn that the fancy “community” poster, meant for a second grade class, does not have an elementary school depicted on it!

The “comments and feedback survey” is a 4-question farce. (What region packed your materials? Was anything missing? If so, what was missing? What grade did you teach?). If it were up to me I would change several of the lessons radically. I doubt I’ll participate again. We have very different philosophies about how to teach and how to teach this age group.

Rich said he has a question… here we are with this “No Child Left Behind” program… and here is this organization sending a bunch of unqualified volunteers into schools to teach something that’s not on the curriculum and not on the tests. How does that fit together?