On Sunday, September 13, the Roslyn AYLUS branch volunteered at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island (CCALI) from 1:30 to 5:00 PM. Since it was the first day of school, our main job was to be teacher assistants and help both the students and teachers throughout the day.
When we first arrived, we went to our assigned classroom and helped welcome the students and get them settled in. Since it was the first day, some of the younger students were nervous about being in a new classroom and meeting new people. We talked with them and tried to make them feel more comfortable. The class started with a get-to-know-me activity where the students shared their names and some of their interests. This helped everyone get to know each other before starting the lessons. After that, we helped the students with their worksheets and answered any questions they had.
Throughout the class, we helped the teachers with different small tasks. We handed out papers, helped students who needed extra help, and watched the classroom while the teacher was teaching. During the break, we helped students go to the bathroom, get snacks, and use their coupons. The coupon system lets students earn rewards for participating and behaving well during class. By helping with these things, the teachers were able to focus more on teaching and keeping the class organized.
As the afternoon came to an end, we helped the students get ready to leave. After all of the students left, we helped clean and organize the classroom by putting away materials and fixing the desks and chairs. We made sure the classroom was back to how it looked when we first arrived.
Overall, volunteering at CCALI on the first day of school was a good experience. We got to help the teachers and students while also seeing what it is like to manage a classroom. Even though some of the tasks were simple, they still helped the teachers and made the day easier for everyone.
Written by Chloe Chen
