Progressive Education National Network

[Robin]

I am very interested in hearing from other progressive educators about specific experiences with service learning and community partnerships. What kinds of programs have you put together? What were the challenges you faced? What do you think your students got out of it? Did you primarily focus on enhancing the academic curriculum for the kids, on meeting an authentic community need, or on a combination? What kinds of projects have been most motivating for the young people? Have you attempted long-term partnerships, or mostly one-time experiences? What was the role of reflection in the work? How did parents react to the program?

I know no one can answer all of those questions at once, but as the service & partnership learning coordinator at The School in Rose Valley, I'm eager to hear from other teachers or administrators attempting to make community partnership a larger part of the progressive school experience. I'm especially interested in this kind of work as it plays out in an elementary setting, as that seems far less common than in higher grades.