September 12, 2003

The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse provides timely resources on topics such as civics and history, evaluation and assessment, partnerships, reflection, and much more. We are always expanding our website and collection and welcome your feedback.

This week, the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse highlights some of our best free, online resources for new K-12 service-learning program directors. These documents go beyond lesson plans to tackle some of the broader issues such as integrating service-learning in the curriculum, generating support, and measuring success.

(Note: Some e-mail programs may cause links to "wrap" and not work properly.If this occurs, please search by title at http://www.servicelearning.org)

ONLINE RESOURCES

Getting Started Hot Topic
Includes information on "What is Service-Learning" and "History of Service-Learning." Provides a glossary of terms.

Getting started with service-learning: Teachers at all levels integrating service into the curriculum. Continuance, Fall/Winter: 22-26. Citation: Exley, R.J. (2000-2001).
A short article with strategies for integrating service into the curriculum. Includes a chart of reflective teaching strategies, and project ideas for five year-olds, middle school, and high school students.

Perceptions: Understanding and Responding to What People Think About Service-Learning
This booklet is designed to provide a snapshot of perceptions about service-learning and suggestions for responding to these perceptions. It's a useful tool for service-learning advocates to motivate and convince others about the value of service-learning.

Profiles of Success: Engaging Young People's Hearts and Minds Through Service-Learning
This report presents several examples of high school service-learning programs, evidence of the impact of service-learning on young people's personal and social development, academic learning, career aspirations and civic responsibility, and its impact on schools and communities.

RELATED RESOURCES

Starting a service-learning program is a good time to start thinking about evaluation and assessment. Here are some good tools.

Service-learning and Assessment: A Field Guide for Teachers. Washington, D.C.: Learn and Serve America. National Service-Learning and Assessment Study Group. (1999).
A comprehensive guide for teachers on assessing service-learning. The following topics are covered: planning for assessment, rubrics for looking at student products, KWLs and Anchor tasks, inviting students into the process, how service-learning can demonstrate standards, and planning and reflection tools.

Shumer's Self-Assessment for Service-Learning. St. Paul, MN: Center for Experiential and Service-Learning, Department of Work, Community, and Family Education, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. Shumer, R., Duttweiler, P., Furco, et. al. (2000).
This tool was designed to guide program staff through a reflection process that would identify areas of strength, as well as areas for improvement.

Lessons Learned About Service-Learning
This provides an excellent description of what teachers in one school district learned about implementing service-learning programs, presented in their own words through quotations.

FURTHER READING

*These items from the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse library can be borrowed by Learn & Serve America (LSA) grantees. Please see our circulation policy.

Service Learning Professional Inquiry Kit. (1999). Gomez, B. & Kinsley, C.

The Service-Learning and Standards Toolkit. (2001). ECS.

HAVE YOU WRITTEN A GREAT S-L LESSON PLAN?

Send your service-learning lesson plans to NSLC to share with others on the website. Email them to libertys@etr.org or call Toll-free 866-245-7378, ext.139.

PROGRAM EXAMPLES

Learn and Serve America Program Directory
Search our database of national Learn and Serve America grantee programs to find other programs in your area or to gather new ideas for your own program.

STUDENTS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA GUIDEBOOK

This guide offers parents, teachers, and other adults who work with children resources for helping young people develop habits of service. You may view the guidebook online or download a free pdf copy. We are out of stock of the print copy of the guidebook.

FOR MORE ASSISTANCE

Try our site-wide search at the top of each page to find what you need. We also provide personal reference service through our toll-free number (866) 245-7378, and choose Option 1 or by email to info@servicelearning.org