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INTRODUCE SERVICE-LEARNING TO YOUR LOCAL PTA
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GOAL:
Through your local Parent/Teacher Association (PTA), introduce parents, teachers and school administrators to the benefits of service-learning.
DESCRIPTION:
During the National Learn & Serve Challenge, make a presentation at your PTA meeting on the subject of service-learning and the Challenge.
GETTING STARTED:
1. Get in touch with your local PTA President (you can get their contact information from your school administrative office) to discuss setting a date for you to come and make a service-leaning presentation.
2. PTA’s often send home a flier with information about the next PTA meeting announcing items to be discussed. Ask your PTA President to have the service-learning meeting highlighted on those flier.
3. Contact Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC) at 1-866-245-SERV(7378) or visit their website at www.servicelearning.org to order the free Bring Learning to Life campaign tools (8 minute DVD, brochure, posters, and getting started guides for parents and teachers). Remember to order enough materials for your audience, especially What is Service Learning? A Guide for Parents. Also, be sure to visit the NSLC Parents Page at www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/parents/.
Materials Needed:
- Bring Learning to Life video or DVD and brochures.
- DVD player or VCR to play service-learning promotional video(s).
- Flier for attendees that includes information on service-learning, state-specific statistics and impacts, short testimonials, etc., or you can simply use some of the Bring Learning to Life materials.
Before the meeting:
Remember that you want to convey a message that will stick in the minds of school board members. Give the audience clear ideas to take away from the meeting.
- Review the Bring Learning to Life DVD and support materials to familiarize yourself with the information. Browse the NSLC website to clarify any questions you may so that you can answer questions from parents and teachers.
- When watching the DVD see if you have any ideas for a service-learning project particularly appropriate for your school or community. Make notes for discussing those ideas at the meeting to make the meeting more personal and to help localize the idea of service-learning.
- You can make individual packets containing all the Bring Learning to Life information or you can set up a display area to show off the materials.
During the meeting:
- Point out key information that you feel may really connect with your school. Remember: make it personal! Your story will help your audience visualize the advantages of a service-learning program at your school.
- Follow up at the end of the meeting by reminding attendees of the benefits a service-learning project can have for youth and communities.
- Answer questions attendees may have. If you’re stumped, don’t worry. Just send them to the NSLC website for more information or to ask reference questions (contact information is on all the Bring Learning to Life materials).
After the meeting:
Contact the PTA President to follow up on member’s questions, ideas and feedback.
Remember that everyone attending the meeting is there for the same reason, to help your youth and your school!
Resources:
EXTRA TIPS:
Make sure to check out the Learn & Serve Challenge media kit to help you learn how to talk about The National Learn & Serve Challenge. You can find the Learn & Serve Challenge media kit by visiting http://www.learnandservechallenge.org.
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