44 Unit 1 You: The Teacher of Tomorrow
safety-check day. Parents of young children could bring their vehicles
to school to have the child safety seats checked. In addition, the class
might prepare a handout on child safety to give to parents who attend
the safety check day. Both the parents and students would evaluate the
experience. A service-learning project such as this enhances learning,
fi lls a community need, and helps students see that they can make a
difference. If your school does not have a service-learning program,
talk to your teachers about establishing one.
• Part-time work. Part-time work is another way to gain experience
with children while still in high school. Child care centers, recreation
programs, and after-school care programs are just a few of the places
that hire part-time or summer staff. Your interest in teaching, related
classes you have taken, and any volunteer experiences would help
make you a good candidate.
There are many opportunities for learning more about the fi eld of
education through actual experience with children. Take advantage of as
many as possible to test your interests and boost your skills. Whom would
you be interested in job shadowing? What volunteer opportunities exist
in your community? Does your school have service-learning projects?
Perhaps you can fi nd a part-time or summer job related to your career goal.
Whatever your choices, they will enhance your learning and your life.
2-2
By volunteering as
a tutor in a service-
learning project, you
can gain valuable
teaching experience
to improve your skills,
while helping others.