By James Jimenez
School’s back in, and with it, the relentless routine of students attending classes, going home, doing homework, and back again. For many young learners, this is the very definition of drudgery, leading to negative attitudes towards school. Modern research strongly suggests that when students find schoolwork monotonous or irrelevant, they are more likely to become disengaged, and that boredom is a significant factor in students’ decisions to skip school. In fact, a recent study has shown that lack of interest in school ranks as the third most commonly cited reason for leaving school, coming in behind the high cost of sending kids to school, and the need to prioritize employment over studies.
And yet, year on year, hardly anything ever changes in the way we approach elementary school education. Even though we know for a fact that engaging and interactive lessons can help combat student boredom and improve attendance rates, we persist in doing everything exactly as we’ve been doing it for years. The definition of insanity comes to mind.
But there is a solution. Approaches that prioritize student interests and provide opportunities for active learning, such as project-based learning, have long been shown to increase student engagement. And when students see a clear connection between their school activities and their own lives or future goals, they are more motivated to attend school more regularly. And this is where Early Act clubs can really make a difference.
What is Early Act?
Early Act is a school-based Rotary-sponsored service club for elementary students. It aims to imbue young children of grade-school age, with a sense of community, service, and leadership, giving them as strong sense of community, an appreciation of service, and preparing them to take on leadership roles as they get older. In this sense, Early Act clubs are like extensions of the classroom and a potentially invaluable adjunct to formal teaching.
Imagine: If students are learning about environmental science, the club can organize a local park clean-up or a recycling project, giving students hands-on activities that deepen their understanding and the relevance of academic content.
Early Act thus seamlessly extends classroom learning by providing practical, real-world applications of academic content and life skills. With appropriate guidance from teachers and administrators acting as Club mentors, Early Act can support and enhance educational goals, foster a positive school culture, and prepares students for future success. Not to put too fine a point on it, chartering an Early Act club can be a transformative addition to your school’s educational program, offering students unique opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference.
Well-rounded development
More than just enhancing education, Early Act clubs also provide an age-appropriate platform for younger students to get involved in helping their communities, teaching young students the value of helping others and making a positive impact in the lives of people around them. With age-appropriate exposure to community service, the children are encouraged to see themselves as members of a community to which they can contribute and help to grow.
Needless to say, Early Act also fosters a child’s leadership skills. At a young age, children develop essential leadership and social interaction skills by participating in club activities. In an environment that takes into consideration their age and comprehension, they learn to organize, lead, and take responsibility for worthwhile projects. In the company of other children, EarlyActors learn to work together. They develop a keener understanding of the value of collaboration on projects, enhancing their appreciation of teamwork and cooperation.
In these key ways, Early Act promotes social and emotional learning, leading to the development of good character traits, such as empathy, respect, responsibility, and integrity. To be perfectly frank, Early Act activities are a crucial counterweight to the lack of guidance and structure young children often grapple with outside of school – and sometimes, even heartbreakingly in their own homes.
Shop talk
From a purely academic viewpoint, it can be said that Early Act cultivates a Growth Mindset, encouraging students to take on challenges and learn from their experiences. In this way, Early Act provides a safe environment to reinforce the educational goal of teaching students to see effort and perseverance as pathways to mastery, learning from both successes and setbacks.
And of course, Early Act integrates cross-curricular learning. Many Early Act projects involve multiple disciplines. For example, a project to create a community garden can involve science (plant biology), math (measuring plots, calculating growth rates), art (designing signs), and writing (documenting the process). This integrative approach provides the much needed reinforcement of the idea that different subjects are interconnected and all contribute value.
By chartering an Early Act club at your school, you will be providing your students with these invaluable opportunities to grow as leaders, make a difference in their community, and develop a strong sense of character and service. By adding value to the school experience, Early Act becomes an invaluable investment in the future of this up-and-coming generation of leaders – the future of your community, the future of our democracy.
