EMPOWERING STUDENT VOICE AND CHOICE THROUGH SERVICE LEARNING
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they do so in collaboration with teachers, mentors, and community partners who help shape the project’ s direction. Whether it’ s the first graders deciding what vegetables to grow in their garden, or the fifth graders crafting a performance about local seniors, each student’ s voice is central to the process( more on these projects to come). However, their decisions are made within a clear structure that guides their efforts toward creating meaningful change.
By embracing the principles of structured agency, SF Friends students are able to navigate the balance between autonomy and responsibility. This empowers them not only to learn but also to grow into thoughtful, confident leaders who understand the power of their choices and the impact they can have on their communities.
“ Core to the service learning program at SFFS is the belief that when students have a say in their learning, they take ownership of their work.“
Empowering Student Voice and Choice
Core to the service learning program at SFFS is the belief that when students have a say in their learning, they take ownership of their work. Our projects foster a space where students are not passive participants, but active contributors to their communities. This empowerment is evident across various grade levels, where students are given the choice to shape their learning experiences. Here are a few examples.
First Grade Gardening: In first grade, as part of their science study on seeds and the environment, students start the year by visiting a local community garden called Garden for the Environment. 1 There they learn firsthand from experts what it takes to nurture and sustain seeds. They later hear from a local farm-to-table restaurant called Kitava. 2 The owner visits their class and shares why it’ s important to eat healthy and what that looks like in his restaurant. With this knowledge they then work on their own seeds project in our school garden, growing items like snow peas, kale, and tomatoes. With lots of support and enhancement from Kitava, these items get turned into a Friends School Salad item menu for a week, where funds raised will support the Garden for the Environment to help them further their work with schools and the community. Students research ingredients, collaborate with res-
1. https:// www. gardenfortheenvironment. org / 2. https:// www. kitava. com /
Page 24 Summer 2025 CSEE Connections