By Ryan Carroccino
Do you want to know what the key to a successful year of service is?
Always come prepared. I’m not just talking about coming mentally prepared for service. While that is an important component, you’ll also need to come physically prepared with extra supplies to keep the day running smoothly. Thankfully, the pockets in our red jackets are deep enough to carry the tools you’ll need.
- Writing Utensils: One or two is good, but three or four … or five pens and pencils are even better. This is to account for the most frequent request we hear from students when entering classrooms: “Do you have a pencil?” Corps members, be sure to save a writing utensil for yourself as you’ll need to record and track information about your students’ behavior interventions, attendance, and other initiatives.
- Note Paper: With the multitude of responsibilities on your plate, it is easy to lose track of due dates and important tasks. I often find myself writing reminders throughout the day and stick them in my pockets. You can also use the paper to leave notes of appreciation and encouragement for a student.
- Snacks: As a corps member, free periods often are filled with planning, and lunch time is typically spent working with a student. To account for this, you will often find a corps member’s pocket filled with quick snacks to offer some nutrition and energy during the hectic day.
- Cell Phones: Having a phone on hand makes it quick and easy to make positive calls home to parents and guardians. Whether you’re praising their student’s growth or letting them know about upcoming events, this is a great opportunity to create an inclusive learning environment.
- Incentives: During our initial training at City Year, Basic Training Academy, the corps learns about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation, fulfillment by accomplishing a task, is the recommended method when working with students. However, extrinsic motivation (accomplishing a task in order to attain an outcome) can also be helpful. Offering incentives, such as ice cream social or an attenDANCE party for students, are frequently used to help students reach their long-term goals. It’s likely to find a corps member carrying such items as raffle tickets, stickers or even candy for model students.
About the author:
Ryan Carroccino was a 2012-2013 corps member serving at the Mildred Avenue K-8 School in Mattapan.
