On March 9, we volunteered as teacher assistants at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island’s Chinese school from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Our main job was to help students with their classwork and activities while also supporting the teachers to make sure the classes ran smoothly.
We started by greeting the students warmly as they arrived, making them feel welcome and ready to learn. One of our first responsibilities was to check that students had completed their homework from the previous week. This helped them stay responsible for their work and keep up with their lessons. During class, we helped by handing out papers, setting up PowerPoint slides when needed, and giving extra support to students who had trouble understanding the lessons. By doing this, we made it easier for teachers to focus on teaching while also making sure students got the help they needed. Since there was a singing competition at 2:00 PM, we brought the talented and excited kids to the right location to compete.
Break time was a fun and relaxing part of the day for the students. Those who had earned coupons—either through good behavior in class or as a reward from their parents—could trade them in for snacks at the snack table. We helped manage this by making sure students followed the rules and received their snacks fairly. After break, we returned to our roles in the classrooms, keeping everything organized and helping students stay focused.
Later in the afternoon, students attended their culture classes, which covered a variety of topics such as Calligraphy, Art 1 and 2, Dance, Gym, Yoga, and more. These classes gave students a chance to explore different interests and develop new skills outside of their regular lessons. We assisted the teachers in these classes by helping students with their work, answering questions, and making sure everyone stayed engaged and involved.
As the school day ended, we helped with student dismissal. We made sure each child left with the correct parent and stayed with those who were still waiting to be picked up. This was an important part of our job, as it ensured all students remained safe until they were with their families.
Overall, this experience was very rewarding. We were able to make a real difference for both the students and the teachers by offering our support. Seeing the students happy and excited to learn, as well as the teachers being grateful for our help, made the day even more meaningful. We look forward to continuing to volunteer and helping out in future classes.
Participating Members:
Emma Wei (3.5 hrs); Sofia Chen (3.5 hrs); Elizabeth Ouyang (3.5 hrs); Jasmine Lin (3.5 hrs); Joy Zou (3.5 hrs); Simon Long (3.5 hrs); Jinrui Lei (3.5 hrs); Mingyao Xu (2.5 hrs); Hunter Chen (3.5 hrs); Lyann Lin (3.5 hrs), Elizabeth Lin (3.5 hours)
Reporter: Emma Wei
