City of Lakes AmeriCorps Youth Workers develop and lead after school enrichment classes that support the learning, creativity, and school success for middle school Long-Term English Learners in the Minneapolis Public Schools. Our ability to support the academic and developmental needs of youth depends on the relationships members build with their students, which is at the heart of all that we do. Our members gain unparalleled hands-on experience working with youth, teachers, families, and fellow corps members. They serve as a cohort of emerging leaders who focus on developing their professional and interpersonal skills while exploring the fields of education and youth development within the context of a large urban school system.
Service Activities
• Serve at a Minneapolis Public Schools middle school or k-8 school site Monday through Thursday between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 pm (start and end times vary by site).
• Develop and lead after school enrichment classes that support the academic and social-emotional development of middle school students. Classes are offered to all interested students, with a priority on involving Long-Term English Learners in opportunities that strengthen their academic literacy skills and engagement in school.
• Provide 1-2 hours of daily academic coaching to middle school Long-Term English Learners within their content classes (science, social studies, math, and English language arts) to improve their academic English literacy skills and ability to access subject matter.
• Provide academic and enrichment support to middle school English Learners through MPS summer school programs.
• Participate in the member professional development program (2 Fridays per month).
Community Need Addressed
City of Lakes AmeriCorps focuses on the specific language and school engagement needs of middle school Long-Term English Learners (LTELs).
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) defines LTELs as students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) status for 5 or more years and the district has a significant concentration of English Learners (ELs). Approximately 25% of MPS students enrolled in grades 6-8 are ELs and, of those, 75% are LTELs. On average, LTELs tend to have lower grades, lower standardized test scores, lower levels of engagement, and face a higher risk of dropping out of school than non-LTELs. Research has shown that English proficiency is a strong predictor of graduation rates, so Middle school is the optimal time to address language deficiencies for LTELs because by the time they get to high school, it is often too late.
In order to become proficient ELs need opportunities to practice their English Language skills, but U.S. classrooms, and middle school classrooms in particular, do not often give EL students many opportunities to produce language in interactive situations. Additionally, curriculum for ELs is often focused solely on language development at the expense of content that connects with students' interests and personal experiences, which in turn negatively impacts ELs' sense of belonging in school. Research shows that students who participate in after school programs and who develop positive relationships with program staff report that they feel more engaged in school. Programs that offer a variety of activities - sports, arts, leadership development, life skills, etc. - based on student interests not only provide ELs opportunities for language learning in real-life situations but also increase their connections with fellow students and their motivation to do well in school.
Position Outcomes
The Minneapolis Public Schools' City of Lakes AmeriCorps program will train and support 16 part time AmeriCorps members who will provide evidence-informed enrichment opportunities to 180 Long-Term English Learners in grades 6-8 to accelerate students' academic language skills and engagement in school. 80% of LTELs completing the program will demonstrate increased academic engagement and motivation as evidenced by school attendance records or by the MPS Student Engagement Survey.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Ongoing professional development focused on transferable skills essential to both the public and private sector.
Skills you will gain
Utilize best practices in supporting English Learners, thinking both critically and creatively, building positive relationships with youth, explore and develop a professional identity
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, 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
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, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
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, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, 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