Youth Life Foundation of Richmond
I found my internship through using our Handshake, a job and internship platform that the UMW Career Center provides to students and alumni. After I learned more about the organization and their dedication towards low economic neighborhoods in the Richmond area, and their purpose to provide extra help and resources to those kids, I knew how important it would be to be a part of a child’s relationship with school.
One of the key parts of my internship is working in small groups with the children in reading and math. I learned to create lesson plans designed to the children’s’ needs. When creating my first lesson plan, it was hard because I had not yet met some of the students and was not sure what topics they were struggling with.
On my first day, specifically meeting my reading group, I learned that I would have just one student. I thought it would be difficult because the rest of the interns and teachers had two or more kids, but it was a blessing in disguise. With our one-on-one time, I was able to learn where the child was academically and some of his interests. When I first created my lesson plan, it was not specifically designed for how he wanted to learn. Along the way I learned that he enjoys arts and craft, fun games, and writing on the white board, so I adjusted the lesson plans.
For example, I was planning on giving him a ton of sheets of paper to fill out about one of the books we would be reading, but instead I started to write out the charts on the whiteboard for him to fill out. He likes seeing the white board up there for him to fill out. He likes being able to be on his feet to move around rather than sitting in a chair the whole time. In addition, he has learned that first we get through our academics like reading out loud, filling out the whiteboard, writing, etc and then there will always be a fun activity. He has learned to wait patiently for the games he likes to do each week.
Then for my math group, I discovered that they like being on the computer. For the past two weeks, I was preparing to do fun math worksheets and games, but I decided to switch that up and utilize math-oriented computer games. From previously tutoring with Stafford Junction at UMW I learned of a resource called Blooket and I used that any chance I got. Taking from that experience, I made a couple of Blookets just in case and learned that the kids in my math group love Blooket. Based upon their feedback, I decided to do more computer activities because they are older and are more interested in using the computer to learn.
Now as I complete my lesson plans, it has become easier because now I know what students enjoy and how they learn best. I am still trying to find and bring in new resources for them to try, but with both groups I have found some of the general resources and materials that make them excited to come to my class.