Category Archives: Corps Experience

The “English” Translation: Your Guide to Student Vernacular

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Written by Kevin R. Fish, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Bain and Company Team at English High School.

Throughout my lifetime, I have learned that miscommunication is often the root of discrepancies and conflict. I have found that at City Year, and more specifically, English High School, having a firm understanding of student language is essential in being successful in our mission. This lead me to the development of the “The English Translation,” a pseudo-personal dictionary that I created in order to assist myself with the vernacular that my students used daily. Over the past 8 months I have encountered 5 words and phrases that have stood out to me the most:

5)    Ya Forcin’ It (v.) Your actions are quite exuberant for what you are actually trying to achieve

4)    Good Looks (interj.) I appreciate the fact that you took the time to do a favor for me with or without me asking.

3)    I’m hip (adj.) I am quite knowledgeable about the current subject of conversation

2)    Aggy (adj.) of or pertaining to intolerable/undesirable actions or speech

1)    Schemin’(v.) To be involved in clandestine activities which are only carried out to improve one’s own self-interest

[Interview: Kevin, City Year and his student Darwell]

Now, these 5 words and phrases represent an entire vernacular that is used commonly throughout our schools. I know that I often use them without even thinking about it and have tried to incorporate them into grammar lessons with students. Simply asking students to think about what part of speech these words represent is an easy way to combine critical thinking and every day vocabulary. Not only can it work into grammar lessons but it is helpful to teach the idea of “time and place.” Getting students to consider alternative words that are more appropriate for school and other professional setting is always a helpful lesson.

On Mission to Change the World: Transforming Passion into Action

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By Elijah Fanelli, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Bank of America Team at Young Achievers Science and Math K-8 Pilot School.

As a senior in high school applying for colleges, I was woefully ignorant of the other options available to me. I had always been a straight shooter in life, destined to go directly from high school to a decent university, continue on to graduate level work, and then settle down into the daily grind of the working world. Sure, I had a vague understanding of what AmeriCorps was and heard mentions of City Year from NPR and my mother – who, interestingly enough, has spent most of her career working in New Haven Public Schools researching the very same attendance, behavior, and coursework interventions that I carry out here at City Year Boston. It is probable that if I weren’t so stubbornly set on following my pre-conceived “normal” educational track, I would have listened to my mother’s suggestions of taking a gap year after high school into greater consideration. Looking back on that time, I wish I had.

Bank of America Team serving at Young Achievers Science and Mathematics K-8 Pilot School

Fortunately, my path eventually did end up crossing City Year, after an successful semester-long stint in college. I entered City Year as a nineteen-year-old college dropout.

City Year has a habit of attracting passionate people—people who desperately want to change the world (see above). I am one of those people, but before joining the ranks of the Red Jacketed and khaki clad City Year corps members, I certainly did not possess the necessary skills to carry out this life mission. I did not have the organizational or logistical knowledge necessary to plan and execute an event. I did not possess the discipline to get up at 7:00AM and not get home until 9:30PM in pursuit of the change I wanted to see in the world. I did not have the perseverance to push onward when progress was non-existent, or even sliding in a negative direction.

City Year has given me these qualities – or more precisely, City Year has facilitated personal growth for me in many areas. Through the powerful City Year community, structured environment, rigorous training, and strong leadership teams, I have grown in more ways than I ever would have imagined possible in eight short months. Personally, I feel that every American citizen should give a year of service, not just to help improve the lives of others, but also to better themselves as individuals.

I entered City Year as a nineteen-year-old college dropout. I will be leaving City Year as an empowered individual with the tools necessary to successfully complete my education and launch powerfully into a life-long mission to positively change the world.

Fancy Tea Parties: Mentoring Outside the Box

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Written by Epiphany Acevedo, City Year AmeriCorps member serving at Dearborn Middle School.

The task of engaging a group of 8th graders can sometimes be a bit daunting, especially when it comes to mentoring lunches. It is for this reason that I often challenge myself to think about new ways to keep my students interested in meeting with me to talk about their leadership development. One of the best ways that I have discovered is creating themed lunches with personalized invitations.

Last week, on a whim I invited four of my students to our team space for a fancy tea party at lunch. I saw it as an opportunity to share something very important to me while learning about my students at the same time. Little did I know that most of the students I invited were also avid tea drinkers. One of them even brought a huge thermos of an African milk tea and a box of donuts to share with the group. It was such a huge success that they requested we continue having weekly tea parties for the rest of the year! I am so excited to have found such a personal way to reach out my students and I can’t wait to see the connections that fancy tea continues to bring us.

[More from Epiphany: City Year jackets the latest craze among middle schoolers]

 

Top Five Friday: Best Places to Visit in Boston in the Spring!

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By Michaela Kinlock, City Year AmeriCorps Member serving on the Summit Partners Team at Harbor Middle School.

You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers! Here are some great places to visit in Boston in both the rainy and sunny springtime weather. Looking to take your students on a field trip? Wait no more.

What’s your favorite Boston attraction? Take the poll below!

5.) Arnold Arboretum

Arnold Arboretum

Located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is the oldest public arboretum in North America!  With its mission to “increase the knowledge of the evolution and biology of woody plants”, the Arnold Arboretum is a great place to visit on a sunny spring day. Spend an afternoon here on a docent or self-guided tour or bring along friends and food for a picnic!

The Arnold Arboretum is easily accessible from the Forest Hills MBTA station on the Orange Line, or the Monument stop on the #35 MBTA bus route.

4.) Museum of Science

Museum of Science

The Museum of Science (MOS) is the perfect place to visit when April showers threaten to keep you cooped up at home. The MOS exhibit halls house both permanent and temporary exhibits. Current exhibits include Geckos: Tails to Toepads, Natural Mysteries, and Dinosaurs: Modeling the Mesozoic.  The MOS also has a Planetarium and Butterfly Garden, and even boasts a five story tall IMAX dome screen located in the Mugar Omni Theater. With admission available to just one or all of these great options, the Museum of Science will make you forget all about the rainy weather outside.

The MOS is available via MBTA at the Science Park stop on the Green E Line.
*For other indoor attractions, check out the New England Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts! Continue reading →

What’s a Fun and Interactive Way to Learn? Field Trips!

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By Nicole Chandler, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the MFS Investment Management Team at Dever-McCormack Lower School.

I have the pleasure of working in a 4th and 5th grade Spanish-English Immersion class. My students are either improving their English speaking skills or learning English for the first time. I’ve found that my young students learn best through innovative ways like watching videos, working on the computer, playing games, conducting experiments, and my favorite method – taking field trips!

The boys enjoying their first trip to Harvard Square

The boys enjoying their first trip to Harvard Square

Since January, I’ve been able to join my students on three field trips. We’ve visited Continue reading →

Building a Family at the Irving Middle School

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Written by Gabriel Solis, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Deloitte Team at the Washington Irving Middle School.

As a corps member serving at a first-year partnership on the Deloitte Team at the Washington Irving Middle School in Roslindale, MA, I have experienced a vast array of ups and downs. However, as I reflect on my corps year thus far with just a few months left to go, I have chosen to view these downs as necessary stepping stones on a path toward magnifying the many ups I have experienced lately. In all, it is these polarized experiences that have allowed me to take the utmost pride in the school I serve and in the students I get to tutor and mentor alongside a group of devoted and inspiring corps members.

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From a team perspective, our Extended Day Program has been a struggle, especially in the beginning of the year. However, through persistence and dedication, we have been blessed to see the fruits of the hard work we have put in. We are connecting with our students in special ways which have allowed us to create a deep bond within our small group. Not only have we witnessed the students open up to us, but we as corps members have opened up even more in an act of reciprocal devotion toward one another.

This display of devotion was seen just a few weeks ago at a Boston Celtics game. Some of our students from the Extended Day Program earned an opportunity to attend a Celtics game as part of the Step Your Game Up Challenge, a program that rewards student excellence in academics and attendance. At the game, I would look over to my students every few minutes. Each time I looked over, my heart jumped with joy at the sight of their smiles. They were so happy to be there.

Afterward, they were beaming. For most of them, Continue reading →

Idealist Interview: Lilah Rossi – Choosing to Serve a Second Year

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By Michaela Kinlock, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Summit Partners Team at the Harbor Pilot Middle School.

For this edition of Idealist Interview, I chose to interview my Team Leader Lilah Rossi.  Originally from Malden, MA, Lilah served her corps year last year at an elementary school with City Year Miami. Lilah came to City Year after earning her Master’s degree in elementary education at Sacred Heart University. She decided to serve because she wanted to give back to underprivileged communities in an educational setting before she dove into teaching. Lilah is an absolute superstar – she is a fantastic person and an inspiring leader. Read on to see what she has to say about City Year and her experience serving in her second year compared to her first!

Lilah Rossi

Why did you choose to serve a second year with City Year? How did you decide to serve your second year at City Year Boston?

I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I was serving in Miami. A lot of people on my team were from the Miami area and were so thankful to serve there. I knew I wanted to go home and give back to my community. I wanted to see what the education system was like around where I grew up. Plus, I really enjoyed the work that was done and wanted to bring what I did in Miami to Boston.

[Rewind: Idealist Interview - Michaela Speaks with Principal Blake]

What is your favorite part about being a Team Leader?

The opportunity to see a team of people having the same experience that I had last year and getting excited by the things that go on this year. Watching my team of corps members develop and grow throughout this year has also been very exciting and rewarding.

What are some differences between your corps year and this year as a Team Leader?

The biggest thing is that the interaction is different with the students. There’s Continue reading →

City Year Pride: The Lasting Power of the Red Jacket

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By Jordan Frias, City Year AmeriCorps member on the National Grid Team serving at the Blackstone Elementary School.

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
-Isaac Newton

City Year is known for its Timberland boots and its bright red all weather and bomber jacket. I was reminded of this at ATA, our annual Advance Training Academy at City Year Headquarters. During the “State of the Site” address given by Lisa Fortenberry and Bryan Rotach, Lisa said something that made me realize that I am truly part of something bigger than myself. She was reminding us of the importance of the red jackets we wear and how privileged we are to be serving as a City Year corps member. Immediately, I was brought back to the first few weeks of service at the Blackstone Elementary School.

That September, I felt that students were instantly drawn to my team without really knowing us. I didn’t understand why at the time. One of our founding stories at City Year is Isaac Newton’s quote, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I slowly began to realize what we stood for in our students’ eyes and what history the teams before us built at the school.

As the months rolled by, however, I began to hear comments from students that weren’t so pleasant. “Last year’s City Year was SO much better!” “You guys are the worst City Years ever!” It took a lot of time and a lot of effort to win them over.

Nowadays, I feel very connected to my students and school. I take ownership and pride in calling them “my students” rather than “those students.” I’ve realized how seriously I take my role as a mentor, role model, and near-peer tutor when in uniform. I can truly say that my teammates share the same sentiment as I do about the red jacket, and we owe it all to City Year Boston for constantly encouraging us to take pride in ourselves, our service, our schools, and our community.

Una Entrevista en Español: An ELL Student Experiences A Social Justice Lesson

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By Rian Yalamanchili, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Johnson and Johnson Team at Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School.

At Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School, in our after-school program called ‘We Are The Change,’ one of the main challenges of implementing a social justice lesson is ensuring that the lesson is engaging for our English Language Learner (ELL) students.

Some of these students recently immigrated to the United States and speak primarily Spanish. I often see that the most effective way to help them learn from the lessons is to ask a corps member or student volunteer to sit by them and provide periodic translations.

Since the beginning of the year, we’ve hosted a number of social justice lessons, and I have had the incredible and rewarding opportunity to serve as a translator. Below you will find one particular conversation in Spanish I had with Esteban*, one of my 8th grade male ELL students. Esteban and I discuss male gender stereotypes. You can find an English translation of this discussion at the end of the article.

[Earlier: Rian Reflects on the 'Art of Classroom Medicine']

Social Justice Conversation in Spanish:

Después de ver este video de Mulan, la película de Disney, ¿piensas que está bien ue la sociedad constantemente nos presenta a los hombres como seres fuertes y musculosos?

Esteban: Claro que no. Es completamente injusto, porque si yo no soy tan fuerte o musculoso como otro chico, no significa que él es mejor que yo.

¿Cuáles son otros estereotipos de género sobre los hombres en la sociedad?

Esteban: Que los hombres no pueden cocinar para nada y que las responsabilidades de cocinar deben ser para las mujeres – pero eso definitivamente no es la verdad, ¡porque algunos de los cocineros mejores del mundo son hombres también!

¿De qué estereotipo de género estás mucho en contra?

Esteban: Absolutamente no agunto como la sociedad cree que los hombres son exitosos si tienen mucho dinero.

¿Por qué quieres resolver este estereotipo de género?

Esteban: Porque siempre ellos son la gente que se casa primero dado que tienen tanto dinero. Yo creo que esto es injusto porque aun si un hombre es pobre, todavía podría amar a su esposa más que los hombres ricos, y yo opino que eso es más importante.

Translation of  Conversation in English:

After seeing this movie clip from the Disney movie Mulan, do you think it’s right for society to constantly portray men as needing to be buff and muscular?

Esteban: No way. I think it’s completely unfair, because even if I’m not as strong or muscular as some other person, that doesn’t mean he’s any better than me.

What are some other gender stereotypes in society about men?

Continue reading →

Top Five Fridays: Inspirational Moments in Mentoring

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By Erin O’Donnell, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the Comcast team at the Jeremiah E Burke High School.

1)      Running the Maine half-marathon in October with five members of my team in the pouring rain. Feeling the sea air against my face and looking across the muddy, sulfur-smelling bay, was a reminder that our work is hard, but the view at the end is beautiful. I felt so supported in that moment, and knew the year ahead was going to be challenging, and life-changing, but together as a team, we would persevere and cross the finish for our students.

2)      The day Jason* gave me three of his notebooks filled with his poetry to read. He shared with me one poem in particular, about hardships in his past, that has the power to make him and listeners cry.

[Rewind: Erin Interviews Mr. Coleman, Superhero Teacher]

3)      The day Manuel*, who spends more time in the hallway than in class and is often absent, found me after school and demanded why Health Club (an after-school enrichment I run on a weekly basis), hadn’t yet started. As I rushed to add a couple extra slides to my PowerPoint presentation, he was eager to get the show on the road. When I arrived at the room, he had already gotten the janitor to unlock the door; he had set up the tables, had put out the snacks, and was smiling.

4)      The day Tyriq*, after vowing to improve his grade this term, practically taught history class during a Socratic seminar. He used precise evidence from the documents we had read during the week, and patiently engaged all of his peers, refocusing those who were going off on tangents. I was so proud of him.

5)       James* sat and did nothing during his test, staring into space.  I took him for a walk down the hall for a pep talk. When he got back, he filled in a couple of questions, but soon got distracted by other students and started talking. I got him to separate himself by moving to the back of the classroom. He moved, but instead hid under his coat like it was a tent. A strange thought occurred to me. I found a mini flashlight in my bag which was there quite by coincidence, and gave it to him. He thought it was hilarious and shined it inside his little den. He finished his test.

Wordless Wednesday: Painting Children’s Book Panels Together

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By Nithya Prabhala, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the CSX Team at the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy.

Teacher – corps member relationships are the foundation of our service and allow us to build connections to powerfully impact our students. The CSX team collaborated with teachers to paint panels of our favorite children’s book covers, carrying over the relationships formed in the classroom into service:

My teacher Tammi Mark and me working on “The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid.”
The finished painted panel of “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid.”
Second grade teacher Jill Potsaid working along side science teacher Ms. Lynch on “Make Way For Ducklings.”
The almost completed painted panel of “Make Way For Ducklings.”

Continue reading →

Empowerment Through Education: A Personal Connection to My Student

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By Diana Mai, City Year AmeriCorps Member serving at the Holland Elementary on the Harvard Pilgrim/PTC Team.

I serve as a corps member in a 4th grade SEI (Secondary English Immersion) classroom at the Holland Elementary. It has only been six months, but I already feel at home and integrated in the sense of pride and community instilled in the small classroom of the twelve students I work with.

[Rewind: Watch Diana's Video Recap of City Year Boston Serving at Project 351]

One of the students I work with closely, Cameron*, immigrated with her family to the United States from Haiti less than a year ago. Early on, she lived in and out of shelters with her mother. After going through many hurdles and social obstacles growing up, she now has some semblance of stability in her life. Reserved and quiet, she reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age.

Similar to Cameron, I was born and raised in an urban environment (New York City’s Lower East Side) to a working-class immigrant family. Early on, I watched my parents confront the problems of classism and xenophobia. As a young teen, I struggled to deal with my own insecurities, having less than most kids my age. My mother worked full-time as a waitress in a restaurant to make ends meet. Usually this meant standing on her feet all day. When she became sick and subsequently disabled by severe rheumatoid arthritis, my father was left to struggle as the sole income-provider while raising my older brother and I. I look back and I realize that many factors, on top of race, class, and gender, have influenced me to be the individual I am today.

ImageCameron and Miguel*, two students I work with

I immerse myself in my work every day because I want to highlight and give voice to marginalized and historically disenfranchised groups of people as a way to empower, and to make those who are invisible, visible. The fusing of lived experience mediated with my perspectives of society is crucial to my standpoint in life and how I negotiate my decision to participate in my community, and one of the reasons why I believe in Continue reading →

Top Five Fridays: My Top City Year Culture Shocks!

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By Nithya Prabhala, City Year AmeriCorps member on the CSX Team serving at the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy.

PITW #66: Do Three Squishy Things A Day. BING!

1. The moment I entered the Civic Forum at the City Year Boston Headquarters, I noticed a huge group of senior corps members singing and clapping. The enthusiastic greeting overwhelmed me and it took me a moment to realize that the chant-like words and phrases were words of welcome. At the time, I was slightly taken aback as I had no understanding of what a power greeting was. Little did I know that it would become a daily part of my life for the months to come. As a member of any City Year team, we greet students in the morning as they enter the school with similar chants, high-fives and above all else, wide smiles. In the beginning, I think I felt silly, but at this point, I know I’ll do whatever, silly or otherwise, to make sure that my kids smile when they walk in the doors of my school, the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy.

PITW #133: Share “Ripples” Constantly- They Increase The Joy.

2. “Please share a ripple, joy or appreciation.” Everyone in our circle at a service project proceeded to talk about one of these. This is a phrase we hear all the time at City Year and a way to begin a meeting or project with positivity. A ripple is an action that has been repeated and gone on to cause further change. Joys are moments of happiness and appreciations are reserved to commemorate other individuals.

Ripples, Joys and Appreciations on a CY Bulletin Board

PITW #128: Take Enormous Pride In The City Year Uniform.

3. “City Year!” Those are the first words I heard when I walked into the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy. The kids were so excited to see us! I was confused as to why, since they didn’t know who I am. What they did recognize was my red jacket. From that one article of clothing, they were able to connect me with City Year and Continue reading →