What do volunteers do in the classroom?
If you choose to work with elementary students, you'll be teaching the kids about the
business basics of the world around them—things like why people put money in a bank and what is the relationship between jobs, skills, and tools.
Middle grade students will focus on the
relevance and importance of staying in school and
personal economic issues like keeping a check register current and using credit wisely.
In a high school classroom, you might practice
interviewing skills, talk about
teamwork on the job, discuss how to
build rapport, or give r
eal-life examples of economics in action.
You don't have to come up with what to teach; it's all in the materials we give you!
What is the time commitment?
Volunteers attend a training session, which lasts about
one hour. (Group training can be arranged on-site at your company.) Then, you visit the classroom to complete anywhere from
five to eight visits (depending upon the program) during the semester. Visits range from
30 to 50 minutes each, and volunteers usually visit
once per week. However, scheduling is flexible—you arrange the schedule individually with the classroom teacher.
When would I be volunteering?
Volunteers visit the classroom during the school day. There are limited opportunities available at other timess, such as during summer or after-school community programs. Clerical, special events, materials-delivery volunteers are also needed.
Am I responsible for classroom discipline?
No, the classroom teacher will remain in the classroom and assist with keeping the class in order. Of course, there may be the occasion where you ask students to quiet down. Teachign techniques and tips are covered in volunteer training sessions.
Can I decide what in grade and school I'd like to teach?
Yes. The choice of age level, program, and location is up to you! At training, we provide you with information on various program topics and general guidelines about student characteristics to help you in making this decision. You will probably know where you will feel the most comfortable, and you are welcome to try various grades. We also let you choose the most convenient location for our available schools (usually a school that is close to work or home, if you prefer). We cannot always accommodate a request for a specific school because we can only add new schools in relation to available funding and volunteer resources.
What qualifications are needed to serve as a JA volunteer?
The most important qualification is a desire to positively impact young people. Secondly, volunteers must serve as role models by following through with the commitment to complete their assigned class. The knowledge you bring to the classroom is your real-world experience. In certain programs, it will be helpful to have a particular background, such as international business or sports marketing.
