Success Skills Through Service Learning

Grades 9-12: Curriculum

The Success Skills through Service Learning is designed to provide a comprehensive approach focusing on ethical, social and intellectual skill development. Mastering the standards will enable students to develop personal integrity based on positive values; to learn respect and responsibility; and to learn citizenship in schools, and community .

The most effective way of learning these skills is in context, placing learning objectives within a real environment.

Service-learning is a form of experiential learning where students develop knowledge and critical thinking skills while addressing genuine community needs. Through direct service activities, students gain an understanding of human psychology, life skills, community needs and resources, civic responsibility, career options, and human diversity. Service-learning provides a framework for positive character development. Service-learning offers a proactive and comprehensive approach that promotes development of core values in thinking, feeling and behavior. Service-learning activities develop values of trustworthiness and responsibility to a commitment to the task itself and to those who are involved in it; collaboration and team-building; respect for the quality of work done; punctuality.

( The SCANS Report; The Character Education Partnership, Lickona, Schaps, and Lewis; "Their Best Selves" Council of Chief State School Officers; "Service-learning and Character Education" report from Wingspread, 1996.) more . . . .