Hands-on Technology Experience for Low-Income Kids

“I believed in genuine growth for the students, and, over time, watched them find the confidence to believe in themselves. Nothing better than spending time with students who WANT to learn.” - Joshua Encarnacion, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught To Live a Dream, an apprenticeship about holistic health, at William Sheppard Middle School in San Jose, California)

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. In the 2015-16 school year, Citizen Schools is serving 5,100 students from disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, 96% of whom are children of color. Google remains one of Citizen Schools’ leading supporters – not only through financial contributions but especially through the human capital of Googlers, who teach our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships.

In this fall semester, 61 Google Citizen Teachers are leading 20 apprenticeships in Citizen Schools programs, bringing learning to life for more than 225 students. Apprenticeships taught by Googlers include:

• Design Thinking - Middle school students at William Sheppard Middle School in California are creating new solutions to problems they’re used to seeing by learning a new way of thinking. Mitchell and Kyle, two Googlers, are leading students in this apprenticeship. It concludes with a WOW! presentation where apprentices explain their thought processes behind each problem and solution.
• Google Shark Tank - At two different schools in New York - Isaac Newton Middle School and Urban Assembly Unison School - Google employees are teaching students how to start their own business by developing an original logo, marketing plan and business pitch. Seven Googlers are leading these two apprenticeships: Carol, Chuck, Anant and Justin at Isaac Newton and Philip, Anya, and Lauren at Urban Assembly. The apprenticeship concludes in a WOW! presentation where apprentices present their new business and explain their product, projected profits and losses, marketing plan, logo, and manufacturing and distribution plans.
• Pencil Code with Google - Three Googlers - Yana, Eric and Daniel - from the Cambridge, MA office are leading this apprenticeship at Edwards Middle School. In this apprenticeship, students use the coding program “Pencil Code” to develop their own video games. At the concluding WOW!, apprentices show the audience how to play their games.

 “I learned a lot about teaching, especially in terms of taking things I know and learning to frame them in a way that is accessible and understandable to middle schoolers. I think teaching for Citizen Schools helped me develop as a teacher, and I enjoyed connecting with the students.” - Yuri Lin, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught Trebuchets at the Dever McCormack School in Boston)

“I had the opportunity to help students who were particularly challenged in terms of behavior, and I saw how that made a difference. I felt I had the opportunity to have an impact to help them improve their focus and participation.” - Richard Achee, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (currently working with 8th graders at the Renaissance School of the Arts in New York.)

Citizen Schools’ signature apprenticeships all culminate in a celebration of students’ learning and the projects they have created called the WOW!. Citizen Schools and Google will again have several opportunities to celebrate our partnership this fall at special WOW! events. We look forward to sharing stories from these WOW!s in the next Global Giving Report.

Citizen Schools is so grateful for our powerful partnership with Google and its employees. The enthusiasm of Google volunteers continues to inspire children and colleagues alike, as they explore new worlds with students and set them on a course for success in high school, college, and careers.

Links:

• Citizen Schools

“My apprenticeship was something I looked forward to every week. It definitely helped me to keep things in perspective.” - Brian B., Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught It IS Rocket Science at Cesar Chavez Academy in California this past spring 2015)

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. In the 2014-15 school year, Citizen Schools served 4,877 students from disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, 80% of whom were children of color. Google remains one of Citizen Schools’ leading supporters – not only through financial contributions but especially through the human capital of Googlers, who teach our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships

During this past academic year, 101 Google Citizen Teachers led 43 apprenticeships in Citizen Schools programs, bringing learning to life for more than 700 students. Apprenticeships taught by Googlers included: 

• Crack the Case -- This semester, Sara, a Client Solutions Manager, and Itii, an Account Manager, from Google New York taught 7th graders from the Isaac Newton Middle School about what is involved in making a successful pitch. After learning about consulting, students worked to create a pitch for a new sneaker line, developing a pitch to present to their client and then to support their pitch with a persuasive portfolio. At the end of the semester, students made pitches for new ice cream flavors at the East Harlem Creamery to a Google audience. Their justifications for their choices and presentations of their business plans exhibited just how much these students learned this spring!
  
  
• Snack Attack! -- Bronx students had the opportunity to learn about the components of healthy snacks from a team of Google New York staff this semester. In the first half of the apprenticeship, students learned techniques to identify healthy choices, understand food portions and categories, and create healthy living habits. Then, in the second half of the apprenticeship, students focused on creating new healthy snacks to present to the Google NYC kitchens for them to serve their employees. Students used food plate diagrams and ingredient rationale to support their healthy snack choices in an end-of-semester WOW! that showcased their new healthy snacking expertise.

• Mindfulness with Google -- Charlie, a Partner Technology Manager from Google Massachusetts, and Laura, a Learning and Development Specialist from Google Massachusetts, spent the fall semester teaching a group of Boston 8th graders how to be their very best selves. Thinking about what it means to be calm and collective, students took part in meditation practices, self-reflection activities, and open discussions about being intentional and meaningful in their actions. At the end of the semester, students exhibited what they had learned and gave a presentation to Google employees about the benefits of Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness. The students embraced the yoga practices and self-reflection through journaling especially, and will continue to practice what they learned thanks to the yoga mats that they received from Charlie and Laura at the end of the semester.

“I had a kid tell me that they really missed me after I had been gone a week. It made me realize how much these kids need consistency and adults who care about them.” - Anne C., Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught Brand You at Chase Elementary in Illinois this past spring 2015)

"I got the chance to teach, give back, and understand what kids these days go through in terms of their daily challenges and how those are different than the ones I grew up with." - Albert C., Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught Android App Design at Elmhurst Community Prep in Oakland this past spring 2015)

Citizen Schools is so grateful for our powerful partnership with Google and its employees. Google Citizen Teachers who displayed a commitment to service by volunteering as a Citizen Teacher twice or more over the past two years were recognized with the President's Volunteer Service Award. 25 Googlers received this award at regional events earlier this summer, and we celebrate their dedication to the important work of Citizen Schools. The enthusiasm of Google volunteers continues to inspire children and colleagues alike, as they explore new worlds with students and set them on a course for success in high school, college, and careers.

Links:

• Citizen Schools