Service Learning Journal Option 1

Journal Prompt 1 Day One (Johnathan Kozol style)

            For my service learning project I am tutoring kindergarten at Charles N. Fortes Elementary school. The school is located on Daboll St in Providence. The neighborhood around the school is considered low income and the school has a wide range of students from different ethnicity. According to greatschools.org website, Charles N. Fortes Elementary School has 66% Hispanic, 17% African American, 6% White and 5% Asian. For my first day, I had to park on one of the side streets right next to the school. Approaching  the school for the side you could not tell at all that is was an elementary school plus it was also confusing approaching the school from one of the side streets because there’s another elementary school right next door and almost looks like they should be connected. But the entrance to Fortes Elementary is facing Bucklin Street then on the main road you will see that the schools parking is in front of the school then after you go through the parking lot, there is a large fenced in yard surrounding the entrance to get in. As soon as you walk inside, you can tell that the school is from a low income area, the school almost looks as if its dirty and there’s not much furniture or decorations inside the school. In my elementary school was the complete opposite, everything looked brand new and was well maintained where in this school it looks as if it’s the complete opposite. First walking in and walking around all the faculty was extremely nice and helpful. I was lost because there was really no signs telling you where each classroom is but every faculty I had encountered had helped me and showed me the way. My teacher I was assigned too is Ms. Sheila Taylor, she is one of the most sweetest and kindest teachers I have ever met. Watching her teach you can tell how much she truly cares for her students. The children were a little shy to talk to me at first until I introduced myself to them and then they open right up to me. I drew an instant connection with a few of the students. Throughout the time I was there many of the children kept wanting to hold my hand when we were walking together in the hall and once I asked them one question, all of them opened up to me about their family life along with their home life outside of school. I had such a great first day! I truly didn’t know what to think nor expect but I can’t wait for get to know the students more along with the teacher. Charles N. Fortes Elementary School is a great school with amazing teachers and I can’t wait to continue my time there until the end of the semester.