BCC Faculty Sponsor:
Christine DeGregorio
Matthew Muller
ENG- 020 Reading Skills (Muller)
Tutoring at Local Schools:
Pair up with a 2nd or 3rd grade teacher at a local school to assist small groups of students with building basic reading and comprehension skills and make reading fun. Activities provided by the teacher. Tutor 1-2 days per week for 1-2 hours.
Choose one school from the list below:
– Crosby Elementary School – 517 West Street, Pittsfield
– Williams Elementary School – 50 Bushey St, Pittsfield
– North Adams Public Schools – 20 Barbour St, North Adams (Main Office)
– Muddy Brook Elementary School – 319 Monument Valley Road, Great Barrington
Literacy Events:
Berkshire United Way
200 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Contact: Karen Vogel
Coordinator of Early Childhood
(413) 442-6948 x22
kvogel@berkshireunitedway.org
Volunteer for literacy events with Berkshire United Way. These events are a part of the Month of the Young Child. http://www.naeyc.org/woyc
• Read to children at “story time” at School Readiness Fair on Saturday, March 28 from 11am -2pm at the Berkshire Mall.
• Participate in Kindergarten Night at the Berkshire Museum, with two separate events – a simulated classroom for incoming kindergarten students and a panel discussion for parents. Tentatively set for April 17th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
• Plan and host a “Story Walk” at BCC in April. Research the collection of “story walk” books available at the Berkshire Athenaeum. (These are poster board sized pages of children’s books that can be hung on the wall or staked outdoors.) Work with the Service-Learning staff to invite BCC’s Norman Rockwell Day Care staff and children to participate.
For more information about Early Childhood Initiatives and Pitt field Promise: http://www.berkshireunitedway.org/early-childhood-literacy
ENG-205 Children’s Literature (ONLINE w Degregorio)
As part of this placement, students will develop a culturally diverse reading list for grade level in which they are working. They will be prepared to share this list with the ELA teacher in the school setting and with students in ENG205 on the final day of class.
Williams Elementary School – Project Option I
50 Bushey Road, Pittsfield, MA
Main Office: 413-448-9680
Principal: Lisa C. Buchinski
English Language Arts teacher: Phyllis Hakeem
– Read multicultural books with elementary school children (grades 2nd & 3rd)
Student may work with second and third grade students weekdays during an afternoon block of English Language Arts ( 1:15-1:45 PM) or work with third grade students in the morning ELA block (9-11 AM) as part of a rotation for ELA, reading to and talking with children about specific works that correlate to grade appropriate ELA rubrics. The emphasis is on engaging children with multicultural literature.
– “Battle of the Books” After School Program:
Fridays 3:15-4:15 PM
3 teams of 4&5th graders read 30 books over the course of the year and play a game of answering questions about the books. Help prepare students participate in a district wide challenge.This is a national competition and the students love it!
http://www.battleofthebooks.org/
Local Preschool or Public School – Project Option II
*For students already working in a licensed preschool or public school
Service-Learning student may choose four to six age appropriate books representing a diversity of cultures to share with their students. They will design a series of prompts that will encourage the children to think about and respond to the materials. Schools to choose from are Williams, Crosby, Muddybrook, and North Adams Elementary Schools.
ENG-215 Intro to Literature (Muller)
Bridging the Gap
Two locations:
• 393 River Street, North Adams, MA (413) 663-7987
• 298 West Street, PIttsfield, MA (413) 442-0624
http://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/MA/BridgingtheGap
MISSION: To educate youth on the resources and tools needed for them to make better decisions for themselves and ultimately attain a more promising future.
Lead a Poetry Club with a small group of at risk youth after school program (ages 11-17) housed at the Salvation Army offices in North Adams and Pittsfield. All interested students must interview with program director and pass a CORI check. Limited number of positions available.
• Offered in Pittsfield on Monday & Wednesday, and North Adams on Tuesday & Thursdays.
• Mandatory court ordered program for youth ages 11-17, male and female.
• 15 – 20 youth in program at any one 12 week session.
• Assist Program Director with program lessons
• Lead a Poetry Club with a small group of self selected students
• Assist in control of environment and kids.
Program Schedule:
3 – 3:30 pm : Arrivals, relax and snack.
3:30 – 5 pm : Activities: Poetry Club, gym play, dinner prep., guest speakers
5 – 5:30 pm : Dinner
5:30 – 6 : Wrap up
Program curriculum includes: Topics such as building self-esteem; how to deal with peer pressure; anger management and decision making; communication skills ; relationships with family members, friends, figures of authority; culture and diversity; violence and gangs; the effects of drugs and alcohol, job seeking and financial planning, legal issues and ethics. Teens also learn about the resources available in their community