The K-12 Standards for Quality Practice

As the teacher, you can focus on connecting the eight standards for quality practice to your project's development.  More can be found on the specific standards on the Service-Learning Definition page.

Meaningful Service

Link to Curriculum

Reflection

Diversity

Youth Voice

Partnerships

Progress Monitoring

Duration and Intensity

Connecting Curriculum with Service

Direct/Indirect Service: Consider a need students could fulfill or a problem they could solve in the school or community.

Education/Mentorships: Find a subject area students can teach or mentor other students or the community about.

Advocacy: Think of a public policy students could research and address.

Creation: Consider products, events, or performances students could create to address a need.

Adapted from James and Pamela Toole, Compass Institute, St. Paul, MN.

The Five Stages of Service-Learning (IPARD/C)

Have students do these five steps of the project development process.

Inventory and Investigation

Students catalog their interests and skills, research and identify a need, analyze the situation, and seek partnerships.

Preparation and Planning

Students gather information, collaborate with partners, develop a plan for their learning and service, and define roles and responsibilities.

Action

Students perform a service through meeting a need.  The service can be direct or indirect, mentoring, advocacy, or the creation of a product or performance.

Reflection

Students process their learning and service experience through a variety of discussions and exercises.  Students can ask questions, receive feedback, share feelings, and connect their work with the larger context.

Demonstration/Celebration

Students showcase what they have learned and the outcome of their service.  They can share this information with other students and staff, parents, and/or the community.  Demonstration may take the form of a fair, a written piece, or a display or performance.

To access state academic standards, follow the link to the MN Dept. of Ed. website.