Citizen Teacher Volunteer Timeline

Week 1: Your Training

Citizen Schools 101

If you haven't had the opportunity yet, check out our 7 minute introductory video on our YouTube channel about Citizen Schools, its inception and program as well as the US education reform movement in general.

Apprenticeships 101

At this in-person session, you'll meet other Citizen Teachers and campus staff in a brief but intensive boot camp that will set the scene for the semester to come. You'll come to understand the "learning-by-doing" theory that is the basis for apprenticeships, gain insight into the specific developmental needs of urban middle-school learners, and learn an extensive set of tools for designing activities and lessons plans that will help get a group of adolescents toward a high-quality WOW! experience. (About 2 hours).

WOW! Planning 101 

This session focuses on developing your individual apprenticeship. Working with the Team Leader who will be your coach in the classroom, you'll map out a ten-week WOW! plan, develop the first lesson, brainstorm engaging activities to cater to different learning styles, and answer lingering questions from Apprenticeships 101. (About 1 hour)

Week 2: Your On-Campus Orientation

Campus Orientation

This is your chance to tour the school where you'll be leading your apprenticeship, and absorb the culture that Citizen Schools fosters there. You'll also finalize lessons one and two, review your WOW! plan, and build a foundation of teamwork with your Team Leader, the rest of the Citizen Schools staff, and the family of Citizen Teachers at your campus. Learn about the sites near you.

You'll tour the school where you'll teach, meet the Citizen Schools Campus Director and the team leader who will support your apprenticeship, and most importantly, appear in the Apprenticeship Fair: your opportunity to recruit students. (About 1 hour)

Weeks 3 – 11: Your Apprenticeship Sessions

Apprenticeships are small groups of our students, led by a Citizen Teacher (that's you!). In each 90-minute session, from around 3:30 to 5 (schedules vary by site), you'll work with your team leader to lead students through concrete goals and impart specific skills. You'll get to know them and they'll have a glimpse into your world. You'll face exciting challenges and surprises, all leading toward the final presentation of their learning with their real-world project: the WOW! Learn more about apprenticeships and visit our online volunteer community, CT Nation, to see a idea bank of past apprenticeships.

Week 12: Your WOW!

A WOW! is the final product, performance or presentation that your apprentices will showcase for the public after their ten weeks of work. Here, students give value back to the community by sharing their authentic product and teaching back what they have learned in your apprenticeship. WOW!s are held at school or in neighborhood venues, and students' families, your colleagues and friends, community leaders, educators, and other young people are invited to join the celebration. Learn more about WOW!s and visit WOW! Showcase to see WOW!s from across the country.

Week 13: Your Apprenticeship Reflection

You, your team leader and your apprentices meet one last time to reflect together on the apprenticeship experience. During your reflection session, you and your apprentices will review the content and skills that were learned, learn about what could be done better, and apply what was learned to school and life in the future. 

Continue the WOW!

Many Citizen Teachers return to teach additional apprenticeships. However, there are many other ways to stay involved. Some former Citizen Teachers help to recruit volunteers from their workplaces, social nertworks, professional orgnaizations or clubs. Others help arrange for field trips (explorations), or attend WOW! events to show support for their former apprentices.