Going to school is about preparing students to succeed in the real world. That’s why teachers Cheryl Bruck and Nancy Scarduzio have developed Dust Busters for their self-contained multiple disabilities class in the Delsea Regional School District (Gloucester County). Through a $2,033 grant from the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education, these students will participate in a community service program that provides them with a marketable skill.
Through the Dust Buster project, students will offer a cleaning service to two local churches and a Senior Citizen Center as dusters and vacuumers once a month. After comprehensive training using classroom-based materials, the students will be given on-the-job training.
During the two months before the site visits, students will follow directions, shop for supplies, choose materials, and prepare for the actual cleaning. They will practice using self-propelled vacuums, dust busters, mops, and dust cloths, learning how to use these materials safely as well as how to maintain their equipment and store it correctly. They will experience working in teams and independently. Before venturing into the community, the group will practice skills at the board office.
For many of these students, this will the first opportunity to volunteer to perform a service for the community. This real life classroom lesson will also boost their self-esteem.
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