Published on Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning clearinghouse
K-12 Starter Kit
Welcome to the K-12 Starter Kit. The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse has gathered the practical tools presented on this page to help you get started with service-learning in K-12 schools.
We highly recommend K-12 Service-Learning Project Planning Toolkit. Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, 2009. http://www.servicelearning.org/library/resource/8542 Whether you are new to service-learning or just starting a program or project, the resources in the toolkit will assist you in developing and implementing a program or project. We are out of stock of the print copy of the toolkit, but you may still view or download the toolkit for free.
Be sure to visit the additional recommended resources on getting started available on our website and other related sites. These are listed below, organized by the essential elements of a service-learning project or program: understanding, planning, funding, partnering, serving, reflecting, evaluating, celebrating, informing, and keeping current. Online resources are listed first in each category, followed by print resources.
Welcome to Service-Learning. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.
Perceptions: Understanding and Responding to What People Think About Service-Learning. APCO Associates and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 1999. (PDF)
Why Districts, Schools, and Classrooms Should Practice Service-Learning. RMC Research Corporation. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Fact Sheet, 2003.
Getting Started Hot Topic. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. http://www.servicelearning.org/resources/hot_topics/getting_started/
Getting Started with Service-Learning: Teachers at All Levels Integrating Service into the Curriculum. Exley, R.J. Continuance (Fall/Winter 2000/2001): 22-26.
Service-Learning Tool Box: Workpages and Checklists to Help You Get Started and Keep You Going. Northwest Regional Education Laboratory. (PDF)
Essential Elements of Service-Learning. Toole, Pamela, ed. National Youth Leadership Council, 1999.
Funding Your Service-Learning Program. Billig, Shelley H. In Building Support for Service-Learning, 1998. (PDF)
Building Community Through Service-Learning: The Role of the Community Partner. ECS Issue Paper. Abravanel, Susan A., 2003. (PDF)
Building Collaborations to Support Service-Learning. Kraft, N. In Building Support for Service-Learning, edited by Shelley H. Billig, p. 67-88, 1998.
Building Effective Partnerships in Service-Learning. Points of Light Foundation. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Fact Sheet, 2002.
Service-Learning Ideas and Curricular Examples (SLICE)
The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action. Kaye, Cathryn Berger, 2010.
Service Learning Case Studies. Hiott, B.C., W. Lyday, and H. Winecoff. In Service Learning Handbook for Teacher Educators and Practitioners, p. 91-116, 1998.
Service Reflection Toolkit. Northwest Service Academy. The basics of what reflection is and sample questions, as well as information about the benefits of the process. (PDF)
Connecting Thinking and Action: Ideas for Service-Learning Reflection. RMC Research Corporation, 2004. Reflection is one of the most powerful components of service-learning. This 104 page book helps educators by giving them ideas for connecting thinking and action in service-learning. Download a free copy (PDF) or contact RMC Research Corporation for a print copy ($20) by calling 1-800-922-3636; by e-mailing rmc@rmcdenver.com; or by writing to 1512 Larimer Street Suite 540, Denver, CO, 80202.
Educator's Guide to Service-Learning Program Evaluation. RMC Research Corporation.This booklet provides tools to evaluate how effectively a program meets its objectives, ways to diagnose which factors contribute to successful or unsuccessful outcomes, and guidance for improvement. The results from these evaluations can help you decide which programs to continue, how to strengthen them, and which ones to end. (PDF)
CART: Compendium of Assessment and ResearchTool. RMC Research Corporation. This database provides information on instruments that measure attributes associated with youth development programs. CART includes descriptions of research instruments, tools, rubrics, and guides and is intended to assist those who have an interest in studying the effectiveness of service-learning, safe and drug-free schools and communities, and other school-based youth development activities. http://cart.rmcdenver.com/
The Service-Learning Quality Review. RMC Research Corporation. An interactive web-based self-assessment tool that measures the quality of service-learning programs in K-12 schools. http://cart.rmcdenver.com/assessment/
Recognition in Service-Learning. Points of Light Foundation. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Fact Sheet, 2002.
Awards, Fellowships, Scholarships Links. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Locate information on service-learning awards, fellowships, and scholarships for your program using our selected source links.
Service-Learning Policy Toolkit. Learning in Deed. Created for service-learning advocates interested in helping inform policymakers. Provides information and strategies for service-learning practitioners, and assists them in understanding how policymaking at the district, state, and federal levels can help to expand the overall scope and quality of the service-learning field. (PDF)National Service-Learning Partnership. (NSLP) The Partnership is a national leadership organization dedicated to advancing service-learning as a core element of the educational experience of every elementary, middle, and secondary school student in the United States. Join NSLP and gain valuable tools for advocacy and find ways to connect to other service-learning leaders around the country. Membership is free. http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse K-12 Sector Page.
Your web portal to current K-12 service-learning news, awards, new books, expert bibliographies, and resources such as fact sheets from the NSLC program advisor RMC Research Corporation.
Email Discussion Lists and Newsletters. Subscribe to e-mail lists and newsletters to connect with other members of the service-learning community and receive the latest service-learning news.
