The document summarizes a Teachers in Action project where pre-service teachers visited a classroom for students with developmental delays. They led an activity where students created cards for children in hospitals. The teachers observed the classroom and students' activities. They saw the importance of teaching students about giving back through service learning projects.

1. Sarah Palmbach, Ashley Kaminoff, Aleeza Novak,
Chelsea Colwell, and Jen Machita
11.27.2011
EEX 3241

2.  For our project, we attended UCP of Central
Florida: East Orange Bailes Campus
◦ Orlando, FL 32816
 “UCP challenges and inspires each child to
develop his or her own talents.”
◦ Standing with this quote, UCP offers programs from
infancy through third-grade charter school. It also
offers before and after care programs and summer
camps as well as therapy programs.
◦ Their philosophy is that every child has their own
strength and they all should be given equal
opportunities.

3.  For our project, we decided to have our students write to
children who are in hospitals.
 We worked with the whole class, creating cards with
personal messages. The students then created and colored
pictures on the front and inside of the cards.
 We then showed the children how to place the cards in
envelopes and apply stamps on the outside, so we could
mail them out to the children.
◦ Through this activity, students gained the knowledge of our mail
system and how to help give a caring hand to those in need. They
learned that other people are in worse situations then they are
and were excited to make them cards to help them feel better.
 We also observed the students in their daily activities within the
classroom.
o In the classroom, the students went through general activities that
improve skills in every area. We would watch the students during circle
time, use an interactive whiteboard that integrated technology in the
classroom. Some students would leave during class time to go with a
therapist and get extra help.

4.  The students ranged in ages from 4-5 years old.
 We worked with the whole class on a group assignment, teaching
them the task of writing to children who are in hospitals to help
them feel better. About half of the class has developmental
delays and there are a few students with autism. Josiah is a little
boy who is diagnosed with autism, but can talk and function.
However, there is another student that we worked with who has
autism and still needs assistance with tasks, such as using the
bathroom. Another student, Addeashis severely disabled and still
wears a diaper and can’t talk, this is due to a developmental
issue. Another student, JP suffers from a developmental delay as
well. Overall, I would say that half the class had developmental
delays that we worked with.
 These individuals are considered I.D.E.A. because they attend
school that has specialists come in to help with their needs. They
also are diagnosed with developmental delays.
 16 students in the classroom total.

7.  After participating in TIA, I see how important
it is to teach the new generation about giving
back to the community.
 When I first heard we were doing TIA in the
class, I was so excited because I had done it
in another class and saw how successful it
was! I was eager to see what my new project
would be and the class we would be working
with. It is so nice to see how children can get
so excited about helping someone else.

8.  After doing this study, I am eager to help
more. I want to to incorporate service
learning into my future classroom because it
is an important activity to pass down.
 The biggest impact for me, was just working
one on one with these students. Answering
their questions about the children in the
hospital. I loved talking to them about what
they were drawing and their opinion of how
that drawing would cheer someone up.

9.  I am completing my teachers in Action project for
my EEX 3241 course with Kelly Grillo.
 After completing this assignment, I would have
to say the three things I understand more about
my course topics, are, how to schedule for
student with disabilities, how to adapt
materials, and to teach students about service
learning.
◦ When we were schudualing our project we made sure to
use guidelines from the book. We had to make sure that
we explained directions clearly and in multiple ways. We
also had to make sure that each student had enough
time to complete the project
◦ In the future, this will help me because I want to work in
a classroom with special needs students and this is great
practice for lesson planning in a diverse classroom.

10.  TIA has helped me improve in my teamwork skills. I have
never done a group project, where most of the planning was
online. IT was hard to get use to checking my messages
multiple times a day but it turned out great! We all
collaborated our ideas together to create one final project.
 Completing this TIA project, has given me practice on
planning and doing a lesson with a diverse classroom.
 I believe that TIA definitely made the theory more clear. I was
able to actually see the students taking action and having fun
doing it.
 I think TIA has definitely prepared me for my internship. It
gave me more practice in the classroom setting. It also
opened my eyes on how to incorporate service learning in the
classroom.

11.  After my service learning, my perspective on civic
engagement and volunteering has not changed much. I
have always done community service projects with my
mom. My mom is very active in our community and made
me an active volunteer too. Now its my turn to pass the
gift of giving down.
 I believe that the purposes of volunteering is to help
others less fortunate and give back to your community.
 I think that service learning is a great method of
learning, because it gets the students involved in a hands
on method and shows them first hand how we can do
something so small and help a whole lot!
 I have become more motivated because of this
experience, I want to teach more younger children about
giving back.
 I believe that every teacher and student should participate
in service learning, because It is an invaluable experience
to get your class to give back and show them how much
they can make a difference.

12.  After all of this is over, I am grateful that I
learned so much about service learning in the
classroom.
 This experience got me excited to have my
classroom be an active part in the
community.
 This experience helped me grow as a person
and I am grateful for it.