Learning ROCKS! is an original Aspire! program, achieving real results for more than 100 3rd-5th grade students at risk of falling into the achievement gap through daily afterschool and summer programs. Each year, more than 90% of our students improve their reading instructional levels. Aspire!'s flagship Learning ROCKS! program supports upper-elementary students' general academic achievement and social-emotional development, placing a heavy emphasis on helping students to develop both their reading skills and a love of reading.
This position is part of the Learning Links AmeriCorps Program, which provides a critical link across the three main aspects of a child’s daily experience: at school; after school and in the summer; and at home/in the community. Toward this end, Aspire partners closely with and supports both schools and parents. Each AmeriCorps Member will work closely with their team to implement the Learning ROCKS! program, providing expanded learning opportunities to students. Corps Members are an integral part of the Learning ROCKS! program, actively planning weekly schedules, implementing lesson plans, leading literature circles and homework groups, and more.
Service Activities
- Plan and implement Learning ROCKS! program lessons in collaboration with program staff and provide direct support and services to approximately 20-40 students each day, including appropriate supervision and assistance during homework completion time and recreational activities.
- Plan and implement full-day summer camp lessons, activities, guest speakers, and field trips.
- Achieve program goals in close collaboration with the Program Manager and/or Site Coordinator and support program staff in collecting and maintaining program data.
- Provide meaningful guidance and support for Learning ROCKS! volunteers.
- Help in daily maintenance of the Aspire! program sites.
- Communicate with parents/guardians and visitors in a professional and meaningful manner.
- Actively contribute to a Community of Practice that identifies and refines best practices in child and youth programming.
- Complete monthly AmeriCorps service reflections.
- Comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and agreements of the organization.
Community Need Addressed
Aspire! Afterschool Learning expands learning opportunities that help young people from historically underserved communities fulfill their potential through afterschool and summer learning programs that support and connect families, schools, and communities.
Position Outcomes
Each summer, Aspire! offers a six-week, full-day intensive summer camp to prevent summer learning loss among our students and bolster their reading. Summer camp themes are set in January of each year and reinforce academic content, including concepts from the Virginia Standards of Learning.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Skills you will gain
experience with historically underserved communities, teaching, tutoring, literacy help, lesson planning
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment