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Multigenerational Learning

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Contributed by: DR. SEAN REIF D.C. on 4/7/2008

Community development creates opportunities for individuals, and education can improve the common good. Schools become partners in community development, because schools and communities dependent upon each other. Students are taught as part of their schooling, on how to meet existing needs and create employment opportunities from themselves and others.

Students discover the responsibility of decision making. Peer tutoring in every subject area provides an opportunity to deliver a service and hone one's own knowledge. Students can work with their class-mates, with young students and community members, on specific areas.

A home economics class can help the elderly shop and prepare foods. Students can adopt Grandparents, provide friendship and companionship as well as help with such things as laundry, and apartment clean-up.

Students who win forensics and music competitions can be recognized at community wide dinners, along with athletes and scholars and students who seem to make the school a nicer place to be. Students interested in music or drama can organize and perform in a series of monthly concerts, short plays, and declamations at nursing homes, hospitals, or community senior citizen centers.

The school could sponsor a travel fair at which community members are encouraged to bring slides, movies, snapshots and souvenirs from trips abroad and talk about their experiences at tables so people could walk around.

History classes might investigate the origins of local buildings and the process of getting them on the National Registry of Historic Places. When accomplished, a community celebration could mark the event.

In small communities, not served by a community newspaper can produced a community newsletter with information about local activities and positive "shout-outs" to neighbors & friends. A community bulletin board can be erected on the grounds, visible to people driving and walking by, that lists school and community events.

Friendly visitor programs for elderly shut-ins in the area could be a project of individuals or teams of students as part of sociology or psychology courses, history & creative writing classes, human growth and family generations.

High school students can be recruited to assist elementary teachers teach earth botany science health, assist in setting up demonstrations, tutor small groups of children, plan mini-field trips and excursions. Speakers for local groups and club meetings can use student and faculty talents in giving audience to young peoples' speeches.

Community members are encouraged to bring magazines they have read to the library and leave them for others. The magazines are not checked out, so no additional staff time is required.

School buildings can become a community center with recreational leagues using the gym during the evenings. Schools could set up day-care centers for students with children, faculty and community members. Some schools open the buildings in the morning before school so community members can walk. The principle should walk with them to get to know them, suggesting ways they might share their talents and knowledge as part of the school program.

Recreational learning is growing more popular for older people and offers them a place in existing classes can enrich class discussion. This sends a message about learning for the love of learning.

Our leaders can be positive in our attitudes, and enthusiastic about this venture. I am convinced that our community has a bright future. I invite community leadership and community collaborators to improved education for the students. There will be enthusiastic teachers who relish the thought of expanding their horizons in this way, even without additional compensation. But ultimately, the facts are that not every teacher needs to be involved.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

DR. SEAN REIF D.C.

THORNTON , CO

DR. SEAN REIF D.C. has posted 1086 stories and 1256 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. DR. SEAN REIF D.C. 's average story rating is 2.97.

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