Do you think you know more than a 6th grader about math? Don’t be so sure, thanks to Google volunteers who are teaching middle school students how to stump the professionals. Once a week for ten weeks Bob Cassels and Nick Minutillo took time out of their day to inspire students to love math. We sat down with them to talk about their experience in the classroom…

CS: What was the topic of your class and what did the students learn?

Nick: During the “apprenticeship” class we taught the students math through secret codes, games and magic. The kids learned the math behind card tricks and cracking codes. At the end of the semester the students had a chance to show what they had learned to a group of engineers. The theme was to see if they could stump the engineers and the students were very well-prepped. They knew they were guaranteed to win because they knew the math behind the experience. In one of the groups an engineer lost the game to a student and the student said, “I want your job!” They really wowed the crowd.

Bob: The kids developed public speaking skills too. They had terrible cases of stage fright at first but played through it and broke out of the their shells. Some of the kids brought their parents to the event and the parents were very impressed to see their kids at Google interacting with adults in a very mature way.

CS: What made your apprenticeship experience a success?

Bob: If anyone says our class was a success it’s because we had nine wonderful kids. They were bright, curious and engaged with the material. They were thrilled when we took them to Google on a field trip. When you work here, it’s easy to forget that Google is a big brand, and when kids enter the building it’s automatically cool to them and they know it must be interesting to work here. I believe that all kids are naturally curious about mathematics and science. Sometimes the traditional non-recreational school day can dull that curiosity. Our goal was to invigorate it.

Nick: All of the support from Citizen Schools freed us to talk about math with the kids and not worry about the logistics. We got a lot of good input from our Teaching Fellow staff partner who suggested things like getting the kids up and moving instead of sitting still. We would email the lesson plan to him on Saturdays and by Sunday he would email back a much better plan based on what he knows about the individual students. He was always right! He taught us the idea of hooking the kids in from the start. There was no time to wonder whether the lesson was going to be fun, because it always started out fun thanks to his expertise.

CS: What did you learn about the students from this experience?

Nick: If you teach a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) apprenticeship you’ll discover that the kids are just really curious. We had an open Q and A session one day and the students love the game of trying to stump us. The questions they asked were serious science questions. They have this pent up curiosity filled with the desire to be exposed to this content.

CS: What was your WOW! or “aha” moment from the semester?

Nick: During the WOW! one of the kids said he had seen a show on the Discovery channel and had a bunch of questions about astronomy. As it turns out I had a friend there who had a lot of astronomy knowledge. They had a great conversation and my friend was really impressed with the student’s level understanding and interest. I realized the importance of providing kids an outlet for their curiosity.

Bob: One young girl would tell us that she didn’t like math, but she literally could not resist to participate in the lessons because of her curiosity. On the first day of class she was very standoffish and she wouldn’t raise her hand. I imagined she thought it was nerdy and not cool enough. When we started doing the secret codes she insisted on being the first to raise her hand, shouting, “I know! I know!” Watching a student getting sucked in to what you think is interesting is really fun.

CS: Why do you think mentoring students is important?

Bob: We can give them opportunities they don’t normally have. Science sometimes gets short shrift in school but kids are desperate for more science. Googlers who want to teach will discover these deep pools of curiosity in the kids and they can have a real impact by unlocking it.

The post Googlers Teach the Math Behind the Magic appeared first on Citizen Schools.

         301-452-3904, hollytrippett@citizenschools.org

         Faith Lin, Civic Engagement Manager, Citizen Schools

         951-801-1168, faithlin@citizenschools.org 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Bay Area Students Present Their Work in Technology and The Sciences

Middle schoolers showcase hands-on STEM experiences at EMC Corporation

May 21, 2013 – Redwood City, CA – Citizen Schools is hosting a region-wide event celebrating middle school students’ impressive science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects sponsored by EMC Corporation. Over the last 10 weeks, students have participated in enrichment apprenticeships taught by volunteer professionals who have shared their knowledge and passion in exciting and engaging ways. Tuesday’s WOW! event — named after the reaction most adults have after seeing the projects — is a chance for students to become the experts and teach-back what they have learned during their apprenticeships.

President Obama has created initiatives urging effective strategies in education, specifically in STEM education. Citizen Schools is on the front lines of this work, providing students with a longer learning day and hands-on projects that foster authentic learning experiences. By having community volunteers, or Citizen Teachers, sharing their passion, students have the advantage of learning real-life skills, creating connections to their school work and future professions.

The STEM WOW! event will take place on May 21st, at EMC from 5:30-7:30PM. During the event, students and Citizen Teachers, representing four Bay Area schools and 11 different apprenticeships, will showcase their work. There will also be a special spotlight on The Tech Challenge apprenticeship.

The Tech Challenge apprenticeship taught students design thinking as a process to apply to any problem. The project culminated with a competition at The Tech Museum of Innovation, where 3,000 students from Northern California competed to land a sensitive instrument package (represented by an egg) on a rocky asteroid surface. Students compiled a notebook documenting their design process and presented to a panel of judges. All Citizen Schools teams successfully landed at least one package at the event.

Keren Pavese, Program Manager at EMC, and one of the first Citizen Teachers to teach The Tech Challenge apprenticeship, noted, “Throughout this apprenticeship, the students worked through challenges, and leveraged team effort, determination, and creativity to reach their goals. It truly has been an honor to teach Citizen Schools’ students, to see their excitement for The Tech Challenge, and to witness a small idea grow into something much bigger.”

During Tuesday’s event, presenting apprenticeships include: There’s an App for That; Robotics; Women in Business; What is a Computer; and more. Projects will be reviewed by special guest judges, including one of the founders of Pandora and currently the CFO of OnLive, Etienne Handman; OnLive COO and Acting CEO, Charlie Jablonski; Vice President of Operations at The Tech Museum of Innovation, Bill Bailor; and Vice President of Engineering at AfterCollege, Steve Girolami.

About Citizen Schools

Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low-income children across the country. Citizen Schools uniquely mobilizes thousands of adult volunteers to help improve student achievement by teaching skill-building apprenticeships. The organization’s programs blend these real-world learning projects with rigorous academic and leadership development activities, preparing students in the middle grades for success in high school, college, the workforce, and civic life.

Founded in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has grown into a national network of thirty-one partner schools serving over 5,300 students in low-income communities across eight states. The organization partners with seven schools in the Bay Area, serving over 1,110 students and engaging approximately 500 volunteers in the academic year.

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The post Press Release: Bay Area Students Present Their Work in Technology and the Sciences appeared first on Citizen Schools.

Citizen Schools California is hosting the STEM WOW! event at the office of EMC Corporation in Santa Clara, California on Tuesday, May 21. Guests will enjoy an inspiring evening of presentations from some of the best and brightest students in California.

Here’s a sneak peek at what the students will be presenting…

1. Tech Challenge
Tech Challenge is our spotlight apprenticeship at the STEM WOW! event. In partnership with EMC, RAFT and the San Jose Tech Museum, this apprenticeship was taught at four schools this semester. Students experienced a real “WOW moment” on the day of the Tech Challenge competition when they were tasked with a mission to launch an egg onto an asteroid. The team displayed exceptional knowledge of design thinking and beamed with pride when they received their Tech Challenge participation medals.  Find out more about the Tech Challenge apprenticeship here. 

Photo by Alison Taggart Barone

2. Amazing Mazes
Students learn how to build complex mazes, explore how they are  programmed, and come up with different ways to solve them. One volunteer said, “In one lesson I was trying to teach an important but abstract math and programming concept. As it turns out, one 7th grade girl in class really got it. I’m not sure who was more pleased, me, because I was able to teach, or she, because she was able to learn!”

3. What is a Computer, Really?
Students learn the ins and outs of a computer and how technology impacts their lives. Citizen Teacher from Cognizant said, “Nothing like teaching kids! It is ‘Give and Take’, you teach and you learn with them. Thanks to Citizen Schools and Campbell for giving this opportunity and experience to us.”

Cisco Apprenticeship Students

4. Women in Business 
The Women’s Leadership Pillar at Cisco is inspiring girls to pursue careers in science, technology, marketing and more! When asked what she wants to do when she’s older, one student responded, “I want to work for Cisco!” Check out this blog post to learn more about the Women in Business apprenticeship.

5. Adventures in the Atmosphere
In this apprenticeship students are learning about the different facets of the atmosphere, including pressure, sound and space. The students are so engaged that they often ask for the websites used in class so they can explore them on their own at home. An 8th grade science teacher at Campbell Middle School came to visit the apprenticeship and left saying how impressed she was with their engagement.

6. There’s an App for That
Students are learning how to design their own mobile phone applications. One student even surprised everyone by using a YouTube tutorial to create an App that solves equations using the quadratic formula!

7. Robotics
Standford University engineering students are teaching kids to build and program their own robots. One shy student broke out of her shell in this apprenticeship class, taking on a leadership role in the class.

8. Bootstrap
Led by volunteers from Google, students are learning how to create their own video games using the Bootstrap programming code.

9. Ice Cream, You Scream
Everybody loves ice cream and these kids are applying the Scientific Method to create their own ice cream flavors. They are applying food science in in real world scenario by learning how to market their ice cream brand.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy an evening of networking with some of the biggest companies in technology, as well as the next generation of scientists, engineers and technology experts. Register today! 

The post California STEM WOW! Event Sure to Inspire appeared first on Citizen Schools.

It feels like only yesterday that I was interviewing for a position with the Citizen Schools National Teaching Fellowship at De Vargas Middle School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I cannot begin to describe the knots that consumed my stomach the first day I stepped into my classroom after summer training. This feeling seems like a distant memory after two years of intense professional and personal growth– working with supportive teammates, dedicated volunteers and of course, incredible students.

I had always heard from colleagues that there is no moment greater than seeing a student have that “aha” moment– that moment when nothing else matters because they have learned how to complete a math problem, speak in front of the class with a loud, strong voice, or when they tell you they care. My love for teaching really began to resonate with me when I witnessed my first “aha” moment with my students. It occurred when I asked them to describe me.

I told them to be very honest and, in the words of Count of Monte Cristo, to “do their worst.” I asked them to describe me in three sentences. Reading through their kind and well thought-out words, I finally reached the last response from a student of mine named Diego. He said, “I know that I am capable of more. I want to do more. I have more confidence in school thanks to Ms. Worrell. She is always there for me and pushes me to show my best.” His response reminded me why I wanted to teach in the first place.

It was the idea that these kids will never stop amazing you that helped me connect to the volunteer “Citizen Teacher” who I supported once a week in my classroom. Robert Nott of the Santa Fe New Mexican, teaches a journalism “apprenticeship” class once a week during the Citizen Shools program hours in the afternoon.  I am fortunate enough to work with a man like Robert. He goes out of his way to help the kids make the best student newspaper possible, while they develop writing and critical thinking skills along way.

The way that Robert connects with our students is undeniably beautiful to observe. He never loses his patience, even when they are being those difficult middle schoolers I have grown to love. I have seen him lend a listening ear to each child either to support them with their writing, or a personal issue that has changed the course of their day.

I am excited for what the future holds. Next year I will be attending the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri to pursue a master’s degree in Public Affairs. I am grateful for all that I have learned from Citizen Schools, the students, and the volunteers that I have worked with. My experience with this organization has provided me with the skills I need to continue on a career path that I hope will always include education.

The post Teaching Fellow Reflects on Two Years of Service appeared first on Citizen Schools.

The apprenticeship class registered for the Love Speaks contest which is designed to unite the youth of  the Houston around a cause. The challenge was to write and produce an original song about showing love in the community. The apprenticeship students chose to sing about a cause near and dear to the hearts– stopping bullying at their school.

After composing, writing lyrics and filming a music video, the group was selected as one of the top three contestants. Their prize is to perform at the concert coming up on May 21, 2013. The kids will perform alongside popular local artists including  Ramiro Garcia, a former American Idol Contestant.

Take a moment to cheer on these great kids by watching their video and sharing it with your network!

The post VIDEO: Citizen Schools Students Selected to Perform in Concert appeared first on Citizen Schools.

After getting her Master’s in social work, Adriana Hernandez wanted to explore education reform and policy from within the classroom.

“I wanted to see an organization that worked in education reform, that was a successful organization that could serve as a model, and help me build a foundation for what I want to do when I grow up,” she says. “I really want to be a consultant or researcher, an analyst on education policy.”

The experience of being a Teaching Fellow at Dever-McCormack School in Boston has opened her eyes.

“It was great to get that opportunity to teach and to learn all the strategies behind teaching. I didn’t realize my teachers had plans when they were coming into to teach me when I was younger!”

The challenge has been daunting, but service has always been a core part of what she wanted from the experience. “We are in AmeriCorps, so we go above and beyond. We work a lot of hours. I’ve grown so much. I feel like whatever job I do next is going to be a piece of cake compared to what I did at Citizens Schools. To go that far in a year and a half is just awesome.”

Teach, serve, and grow with Adriana for the next two years–you’ll make a lifetime of difference.

Apply now!

The post VIDEO: What Did You Learn In The Teaching Fellowship? appeared first on Citizen Schools.

Justin Lawson doesn’t want to offend the other Teaching Fellows, but he does think he has an advantage some of them don’t have.

“I’m from the area. I see myself in the the kids I’m working with, using the same lingo. It’s just a great opportunity to give back to the community that I grew up in. I feel like they believe me a little bit more.”

He draws on his psychology and communication studies from the University of Hartford in the classrooms where he serves in Boston’s Irving Middle School.

“They have to believe that you believe in them to succeed. Build a relationship with your students. And it might not seem like it will happen this year, but later on they’re going to remember you and the opportunities that you gave them.”

He keeps that long view even as the daily challenge of inspiring students can be intense. “As the students are learning, I’m learning at the same time. It’s not like a one-way street, with me having to just teach and them to grow. It’s for both of us.”

Teach, serve, and grow with Justin for the next two years–you’ll make a lifetime of difference.

Apply Now!

The post VIDEO: What Is The Key To Success In The Teaching Fellowship? appeared first on Citizen Schools.

Michelle Carter was born and raised in North Carolina, and moved from Chapel Hill to serve in Citizen Schools’ National Teaching Fellowship at Irving Middle School in Boston.

“I really liked how they give students the opportunity to learn about careers and expose them to it in middle school,” she says. “Just the opportunity to teach and give back really led me on this path to come to Citizen Schools.”

She’s aware that she’s making a difference every day. “A lot of the students that I work with, they don’t really value themselves. And just being there to listen to them, work with them, encourage them even when they’re having a bad day. Like, ‘What’s going on?’ That really means a lot to them, to have somebody in their corner supporting them every day. I think it makes a huge difference in their life.”

And the benefit is mutual. “You definitely gain time management skills, organization skills, working on a team, cooperation. You gain skills in just about every professional development realm. Any path that you want to take after Citizens Schools, the Fellowship will help you with. It really prepares you for the real world.”

Teach, serve, and grow with Michelle for the next two years–you’ll make a lifetime of difference.

Apply now! 

The post VIDEO: What Is The Most Rewarding Part Of The Teaching Fellowship? appeared first on Citizen Schools.

When I was asked to teach a group of middle school students chemistry through the Citizen Schools apprenticeship program it seemed like a good idea at first. I’m a chemist, I recognize the need for our kids to be scientifically literate if they’re going to keep up with increasing global competition, and I thought it would be a fun and painless way to see if I had the chops for teaching…

While I was making up mind to take the plunge, I thought of all the cool concepts we could cover.  All the awesome experiments we could do.  I imagined the students getting excited and watching their eyes light up as they grasped the concepts of entropy and saw the beauty inherent in the periodic table.  We would discuss the seminal work of Priestley, Lavoisier, and Heisenberg, and trace the arc of our understanding of nature, revealed.  I signed up to lead the class in the spring semester at the Edwards school in Charlestown, MA.

Then reality set in. I met with my teaching partner, Miss G, who was a big help in supporting me throughout the apprenticeship.  She patiently explained that unstable, toxic, and/or smelly chemicals (you know, all the fun stuff), are generally frowned upon in most middle schools.  Clearly, my lesson plan would require some serious tweaking, and the clock was ticking down toward my first class.

I then discovered that putting together my first 90-minute class took quite a bit of research and preparation time. Finally, with my notes, lecture slides and equipment in place, I was ready for my first class. This. Was. Going. To. Be. EPIC!

And then I learned some more things.

These kids didn’t want to be lectured to.  They wanted to have fun, and there was no way they’d sit still for 20 minutes. Or 15. Or even 5.  It had to be fast and interactive, so I improvised, encouraging them to ask questions.  Rookie mistake:

• “What would happen if I could grab a piece of the sun?”
• “I like pandas”
• “Is it true that you swallow eight spiders a year?”

The second lesson went a little smoother as I got a better grip on the class dynamics, and the third lesson was even better, and so on through the semester.  Some kids were totally involved, some were bored and rambunctious, and one girl never said a word, which I found most unnerving of all.  Neither cajoling, joking, or direct interrogation could get more than a few syllables out her over the course of the ten weeks.  We had an event at the end of the course featuring a movie that highlighted what the kids learned, and then we were done.

I was exhausted, but happy.  I met with my teaching partner for a wrap-up, where she gave me written thank-you notes from the kids.  Some had just a name, and some, a sentence or two.  When I got to the one from “the girl who didn’t talk,” my jaw dropped:

This was the last lesson I learned that semester, and one I would pass on to anyone currently teaching an apprenticeship or considering one:  Just showing up and giving it your best shot will have an effect on these kids, the magnitude of which you may never know, but which will be much greater than you will ever realize.

You can see this apprenticeship and many more in action at a WOW! event near you in Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, New Mexico and Texas.

The post Teaching is a Learning Process appeared first on Citizen Schools.

In November, 2012 the Radio Disney AM1480 DJs began their Citizen Schools tour just outside of Boston at the Orchard Gardens K-8 School for a STEM Challenge event, sponsored by Citizen Schools’ partner EMC. 100 6th and 7th grade students participated in the event, which was designed to get students excited about pursuing STEM careers in the future. Over the next several months, Radio Disney AM1480 headed down south to North Carolina where they visited another partner school in Charlotte and then traveled across the country to visit six Citizen Schools sites in California.

All of the events were a huge success. Students jumped out of their seats, cheering on their classmates in a science trivia game and math competition. After what seemed like a purely fun event, students left understanding STEM concepts such as covalent bonds, computer processing units, and geo-construction. They were excited about science and technology and even imagining what their future STEM careers could be like. Here’s what a few of them had to say…

“Talking about STEM today got me more excited about being an engineer when I grow up”- Juan, 6th grade student

“I was inspired to get out and explore”- Marzjon, 6th grade student

“I changed what I want to be when I grow up to something in technology!”- Melissa, 6th grade student

These moments of inspiration wouldn’t be possible without the partnership and investment from EMC—which supports Citizen Schools in bringing STEM learning to life for middle school students from low-income areas. In partnership with Radio Disney AM1480, EMC is dedicated to building future engineers, scientists, computer programmers and more.

The post Radio Disney AM1480 & EMC Bring Learning to Life for Kids appeared first on Citizen Schools.