On Sunday March 16th, 2025, the Roslyn AYLUS Branch volunteered at the Chinese School of the Long Island Chinese Cultural Association from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The volunteers worked as teacher assistants (TAs) and helped the children with various assignments and activities.
As teacher assistants, we played a crucial role in reducing the teacher’s workload while providing an educational and enjoyable experience for the children. Our responsibilities began as soon as we entered the classroom, where we helped create a welcoming and safe environment by greeting the children, settling them into their seats, and collecting their homework from the previous week. During class, we performed a variety of tasks, including distributing materials, keeping the children focused, minimizing disruptions, supporting the teacher during lessons, and escorting students to the restroom when necessary.
Midway through the class, the children would take a break, and we would organize them into lines to quickly receive coupons for snacks and toys. After the break, we resumed the class and escorted the students to their culture classes, which included activities like Calligraphy, Dance, Art, Yoga, Martial Arts, and more. Once the children were in their culture classes, we returned to the main classroom to ensure that those who didn’t have a culture class were still engaged in a fun and meaningful way.
At the end of the day, we made sure dismissal was smooth and safe by helping the students pack their belongings, saying goodbye, and ensuring they were safely returned to their parents.
Overall, this experience as a TA taught us a great deal about the challenges teachers face. Despite the difficulties, it was a rewarding opportunity that helped us develop kindness and empathy for children. Being in the classroom allowed us to deepen our understanding of the teaching process and create an engaging atmosphere that made the children excited to come back.
Participants: Emma Wei (3.5 hours), Lyann Lin (3.5 hours), Sofia Chen (3.5 hours), Jasmine Lin (3.5 hours), Mingyao (2.5 hours), Joy Zou (3.5 hours), Simon (3.5 hours), Jinrui (3.5 hours)
Reporter: Jasmine Lin
