SuperKids Volunteer Preparation
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1. WHO DO WE SERVE?
We partner with 4-‐5 rural schools to enhance programs in Language Arts/Reading, Computer Skills, Art, Music and Sports. We also provide Book in a Bag programs and provide school uniforms for students in need. SuperKids donates 1000’s of books, school supplies & computers (installed) to all schools as well as many schools that are not in the SuperKids Literacy program. We also provide books and art supplies to some area pre-‐schools. All schools are located in the Negril area of Hanover and Westmoreland Parishes. One of the schools has some support from the Sandals Foundation 2. WHAT ARE THE JAMAICAN SCHOOLS LIKE?
Schools vary in population and some schools have multiple classes per grade. The average class size is about 35 to 40 students. Principals & Philosophies vary in personality at each school just as they do in the U.S. Teachers receive 2 years training in college. Teachers struggle with new & different methods of teaching. Principals have requested help and guidance for these teachers. Children are “word readers” with very little comprehension. Rote learning is traditional. Comprehension techniques are clearly needed. The literacy rate is about 30-‐50% among children and 20% among adults. Parents or caretakers do not/cannot buy books and some cannot read to their children. Playground discipline seldom exists. Teachers are not outside with the children during recess or lunch. Children sometimes argue and fight and can be very physical with each other. Corporal punishment was banned around 2007 but the ban is not necessarily enforced in some schools. The Ministry of Education is actively trying to educate and train teachers in positive rewards and other methods of discipline. Classroom discipline also varies. We work to demonstrate positive discipline models for the teachers that still use physical means of punishment . We encourage all volunteers to work with teachers on “behavior modification” techniques (encouraging positive reinforcement, re-‐training to speak softly, rewards for good behavior, etc.)
SuperKids Volunteer Preparation
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All schools vary in size. Classroom can be a large room with portable chalkboards to divide classes into individual classrooms. Roofs are often tin. Walls are often concrete. The noise levels can be deafening; teachers shout, children make noise. Rain is unbelievable. So... be ready for anything! There is very little environmental awareness in most schools. Our Green Team works with each school coordinating activities. You can obtain trash containers, educate students and teachers to use them and reward the team with incentives you brought with you (stickers, pencils, etc.) Please work with the principals and teachers on activities. Remember to always check in with the Principal and Green Team coordinator about ideas you have. 3. WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS
The Principal of each school determines the grade levels that will receive teaching team services. Principals usually prefer the Language Art Teams to work with Grade 3 & 4. In grade 4 students take a Literacy test at the end of the year. It is a SuperKids goal to share some techniques with host teachers to help students study to do their best on the Literacy test. Principals at most schools request the Computer Teams work with Grades 4, 5 & 6 . Book in a Bag is basically a library type concept. The schools or parents agree to provide bags for all the children in the classroom (usually Grade 3 or 4). Each Friday the children take home three books for the week and return them the following Friday to exchange for 3 more. Schools agree to organize reading comprehension competitions with prizes (usually school supplies). SuperKids Book in a Bag team deliver the books to the schools. The Book in a Bag team meets with the teacher/librarian to organize and explain the concept. You will enjoy helping facilitate this program in your school. Art or Music Teams are assigned to schools at the Principal’s request providing the school has space for art and music instruction. Sports Teams are sent to the schools that have the best athletic fields/courts with the physical space to provide physical education.
SuperKids Volunteer Preparation
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In Jamaica a child is not allowed to attend school without a uniform. Uniforms cost about $15 per student. Great Shape! Inc. asks for donations from all volunteers on all projects to sponsor uniforms. We hope to provide at least 300 children with uniforms with donations made in 2014. We also provide 500 children with shoes donated from Soles4Souls non profit. You may have indicated an area of interest on your application. Directors try their best to assign volunteers according to the first choice (i.e., teachers and volunteers with language arts/reading experience are assigned to Language Art Teams). Volunteers with experience in a certain area will generally be assigned to that team. SuperKids Co-‐Directors make school & team assignments after applications are all in to design the best teams. Often volunteers are re-‐assigned to teams in Jamaica to create an even better fit. 4. CURRICULUM Teams from previous years helped develop instructional enrichment guidelines that support the Jamaican Curriculum. These guidelines will give you an idea of what instructional goals you might address so you can better determine what materials to bring with you. We’ll soon provide you with these guidelines. 5. WHAT WILL MY DAY LOOK LIKE? We have a daily breakfast meeting at 7:00am. You will be on your bus to travel to school by 8:15am. Schools are less than an hour away. You will be bused back to Sandals/Beaches by 4/4:30, have a debrief meeting with your team (after school,on the bus or at resort), then hit the beach, happy hour, nap, whatever you need to rejuvenate and have fun! We have a welcome party every Saturday evening, Farewell party on Friday evenings, and Orientation on Sunday mornings (all meetings are mandatory, even for 2 week volunteers). 6. OTHER ITEMS TO BRING Aside from the “Required Supplies list”. Helpful suggestions below from past volunteers:
• Personal supply kit: whiteboards, stapler, rubber bands, paper clips, post its, basic office supplies, thumb tacks or push pins, masking tape, index cards (to make name tags for kids and teachers), yarn to hang name tags around their neck, paper punch, pencil sharpeners (non-‐electric, no batteries will be available unless you bring them), battery clock, cork board to display work.
SuperKids Volunteer Preparation
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• Teams may wish to bring “handouts”. Especially helpful for reading and computer teams. NO COPY FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN JAMAICA. Bring copies with you.
• Large sheets of LAMINATED lined paper. LESSONS can be written with erasable markers and used many times. Roll up and carry in luggage. Chalkboards are used by host teachers to write daily lessons for students
• Small “composition” books are another suggestion: also flashcards, (ABC’s, sight words, phonics, rhyming words etc.)
• Learning software. Inexpensive or free software is just fine. • Black plastic bags and gloves if you want to push the “environmental” pick up.
All items on the “required list of supplies” are shared. All supplies are organized in a supply room where you can pick them up when you need and want them. If you wish to have your own personal supplies please bring with you and KEEP IN YOUR ROOM for personal distribution. We have a Supply Room (the “Free Store”). Books & school supplies can be obtained at this room: scheduled times w/Supply Room staff will be announced. If you bring books to give away as rewards, please keep them in your room for distribution. Always try to get DONATIONS/SPONSORS from friends and relatives. Volunteers seek sponsorships from their friends, organizations, churches, schools etc. Use the forms provided by Great Shape! Inc. SuperKids logistics: [email protected]
7. LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
-‐For school questions please email Gretchen: [email protected], 541-‐535-‐9861 -‐For questions regarding computers or sports email Brad: [email protected], 509-‐325-‐3623 -‐For general questions, registration, and logistics email Georgene: [email protected] 541-‐821-‐6182 HAVE FUN! You are now part of an amazing team of humanitarian SuperKids heroes! We are excited to take such a great team of SuperKids volunteers to Jamaica! One Love!
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