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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK
Learning Goals
In Visit 1, students will:
- Meet you, their Role Model Volunteer
- Understand the purpose of The Role Model Program
- Understand the concept of a Role Model
- Learn characteristics associated with positive Role Models
- Identify a Role Model in their own life
Tips for Visit 1
- Relax! You will probably feel a little nervous going into a classroom of 30 students. Even veteran Role Models get pre-classroom jitters before their first visit! But, it is never as bad as you imagine.
- Start with a Bang! Introduce yourself and The Role Model Program with confidence and enthusiasm. Let them know why you are there and how important the goals of The Role Model Program are to learn. If you are enthusiastic about being there, the students will be enthusiastic too.
- Set the Tone. Establish rules and expectations during your visits (i.e., one person speaks at a time, how do we respect each other, etc.). Make your classroom rules "positive" - for example, instead of saying don’t talk when someone else is talking, say something like: "We are going to respect each other by listening when someone is talking." Play a game or conduct an icebreaker to get the students to feel at ease.
- Remember Their Names. It means a lot to kids if you remember their name. Figure out in advance how you plan to remember your students’ names. You can ask the teacher prior to your visit to have name-tags prepared, or you can bring in your own paper and have the students make them during your visit (see the Name Tent template in the Tools section of the web site).
- Collect the Books at the End of Each Session. Always collect the books at the end of each session and store them in the classroom until your next visit.
- Let Them Know You Want To Be There and That You Believe in Them. You will be amazed at how few of your students have positive adult Role Models who volunteer to be in their life. When you tell them that no one is paying you to visit their classrooms, you let them know that what you have to say is important.
- Do the Exercises. Before you attend your first visit, review the exercises and determine the importance of each one. Your time is precious in the classroom and you want to be sure the most important exercises are conveyed in the time you have. Doing every exercise is challenging and may not be the best way to deliver your message. Review the goals and choose exercises that you think will best help the students understand them.
Exercise #1: My Classroom Role Model
Exercise Objective: Students will be able to identify your traits and attributes.
Preparation: This exercise is all about you. You will need to answer each question on your own prior to your classroom visit.
Presentation Suggestions:
- Review all the answers to the questions. Specifically concentrate on questions 7, 8 and 9. What ideas and tools for success do you want to impart on the students?
- When you talk to the students about your job, ask them questions like: "What kinds of things do you think I do in my job?"
- When you share the answers to statement #7 and #8 with the students, ask them to define the words you are giving them. You want to be sure the students understand these important ideas.
- When you answer statement #9, have the students draw a line down the middle of the answer section and fill in their own answers. Walk around the room as they fill in the blanks. This will give you clues as to the interests and hobbies of your students.
Ideas for Exercise #1
- Have the students pretend to be journalists at a press conference (explain what a journalist is and what a press conference is) and that they have been sent by the newspaper to interview you. Students will raise their hands and ask each question from page one.
- On small pieces of paper, write an answer to each question in the exercise. Place them in a hat or box. Then have the students draw an answer, read it out loud, and guess which question on page one matches the answer.
Exercise #2: Role Models are Positive People
Exercise Objective: Students will be able to accurately define the term “Role Model” and identify positive Role Models in their lives. The goal of this exercise is introduce the concept of positive traits and positive people. This is a great exercise if students are having difficulty grasping the concept of a Role Model.
Preparation: Complete the exercise and give thought to those that helped you out when you were young. Identify a personal story that emphasizes the importance of Role Models to share with the class.
Presentation Suggestions:
- To help the students succeed at this exercise, read the information at the top of the page or ask a student to read it aloud. Then brainstorm ideas. Ask the students: “Who are important people in your life?” To guide them, write headings on the board for Family Members, School, Church, Sports, etc. Brainstorm ideas and write them down below the appropriate heading.
- Read the directions.
- Have the students use the chart you created on the board to complete each statement.
- Select students to share their answers.
Ideas for Exercise #2
- If you are running short on time, select three of the statements or have the students select their favorite three.
- Bring in pictures of the people you know who fit into the categories and share them with the students.
Exercise #3: Star Qualitites
Exercise Objective: Students will be able to identify positive people in their lives that possess "star" qualities. Students will understand the concept of positive traits and be able to identify positive traits in people they come into contact with in their daily lives.
Preparation: Make sure that you can define and explain all the words on the page.
Presentation Suggestion:
- This exercise can be particularly time consuming. Be prepared to define and explain the vocabulary words on this page. Students may not be clear about what the word "trait" means. Read each word aloud.
- You can use a "my turn, your turn approach" and have the students repeat the word after you. Ask the students to raise their hand if they do not know what a particular word means. Let them know how much courage it takes to ask for help and acknowledge those that do.
- When you define words, make it relevant to the students' world. Ask questions like: "What does it mean to be responsible at home?", "What does it mean to be respectful at school?", or "What does it mean to be generous on the soccer field?"
- When students finish, ask them to briefly describe who they selected for a particular word and why.
Time Saver: Choose the 8 words you think are most important, define them and focus on them.
Ideas for Exercise #3
- Make stars using the template at the back of this book and distribute one to each student. Ask the students to write their name and five "star qualities" they possess on the star. The star can be used as a name badge or can be displayed throughout the classroom (ask the teacher for direction).
- Have the students pair up in partners and come up with names of people they know who possess the "star qualities". Have them write the name of the person beside the word that describes them. Limit the time to complete the activity and keep the students on task.
- Separate the class into three groups and assign each of them a column of words. Group members, then match a trait from their assigned column to one or more persons in their group.
- To understand how important these qualities are, have the students try to imagine what life would be like if everyone wanted to be the opposite of the words in the exercise. (Idea from Malcolm Bromwell)
Exercise #4: The Story of Carlos Singh
Exercise Objective: Students will better understand the qualities of a positive adult Role Model and see that those who grow up in adverse environments can overcome obstacles, seek higher education, and have a successful future. Students will link the importance of having Role Models and having a successful future.
Preparation: None.
Presentation Suggestions: Select students to read each paragraph of the story. Answer the questions as a class and discuss the story. Emphasize the adversity Carlos faced as a child and the success he has achieved because his Role Model taught him to value education.
Exercise #5: My Role Model ( MANDATORY EXERCISE )
Exercise Objectives: Students will be able to identify one Role Model in their life and explain why this person is a good Role Model for them. Students will be able to describe how they can become more like their selected Role Model. This is the most critical exercise in the unit as it ties all visit 1 learning goals together.
Preparation: Fill out the exercise before visiting the class. Be prepared to share your answers with the class and motivate them to complete the exercise on their own.
Presentation Suggestions:
- Share each answer you wrote down and tell a story about your Role Model.
- Ask them to look over their answers to Exercise #2, and choose one person they admire and think is a good Role Model for them.
- Use the vocabulary page as a reference for the students to fill out their answers.
- Walk around the room to help students fill in their answers. Point out students who have the right idea and ask them if they would like to share what they wrote. (If they say no, ask if it is okay if you read it aloud – sometimes, English language learners are shy about public speaking).
Ideas for Exercise #5
- Create an art project. It can be as simple as a sheet of white drawing paper or more involved such as a cut out of a figure of a person. Have the students draw a picture of their role model and list the traits of that role model on the paper. The students will take the art project to their Role Model and explain why they are their Role Model.
- Bring your personal Role Model into class and introduce him or her to the students. Have your Role Model participate in this exercise.
Exercise #6: You Can be a Role Model for Others
Exercise Objective: Students will understand that anyone can be a Role Model for others. Students will also learn to develop an effective acrostic (name poem).
Preparation: None.
Presentation Suggestions:
- Explain to the students that they are Role Models too. They are Role Models to their siblings, peers, and even sometimes to adults.
- Invite students to read the statements aloud and discuss their meanings. It is important for them to know that it is normal for them to feel awkward as their bodies and minds are changing and growing every day.
- Discuss the importance of positive affirmations. A good affirmation to use as an example is: "I am the best I can be."
Ideas for Exercise #6
- Ask the students to raise their hands if they think they are, or can be, a positive Role Model for someone else. Ask them for whom they might be a Role Model (e.g., siblings, friends, younger kids they go to school with, etc.). Tell the students that these people look up to them and it is their job to set an example.
Exercise #7: Need Some Space?
If time permits, ask the students to use this space to reflect on their first Role Model visit. Encourage them to write about what they have learned so far and what they would like to remember or think about some more.
Ideas for Exercise #7: Assign this exercise as a classroom activity after you leave
Exercise #8: Homework for Visit Two ( MANDATORY EXERCISE )
Exercise Objective: Students will learn their talents and strengths by interviewing an adult about the student. (the subject of the interview questions is the child, not the adult) Ask the teacher about the best way to collect it based on their classroom routines and expectations.
Presentation Suggestion: Provide students with examples of adults they can interview for this assignment, e.g., teachers, librarians, adults from after-school care, or adult family members. Encourage students to ask more than one adult if they would like to.
Visit Summary
Recap the first unit by asking the students a few questions that reflect their understanding of the visit goals. For example: "What is a Role Model?", "Why is it important to have a Role Model?", or "Name some words you would use to describe a good Role Model."
Collect the workbooks, thank the students for their time, and let them know when you will be back.
