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JA North is a student-centered organization, and volunteers are what bring our programs to life!
When students are able to connect with others and hear about their life experiences, they are exposed to opportunities and pathways they often have never envisioned before.
As a JA BizTown volunteer, you will work with a "small business group" of about 5-10 students and assist them in navigating their BizTown day. It is important that our students feel seen and heard during their learning experience, so that the focus remains on learning and fun!
Below are some best practices for working with the citizens of JA BizTown.
Working with 4th- 6th graders (9 – 12 year-olds)
These children are somewhat self-conscious and generally prefer group activities to working alone. They are also beginning to understand abstractions as well as cause-and-effect relationships, but need real experience in social settings. Many students are peer-conscious and may be very concerned about what classmates think. These students can be very competitive and tend to get noisy and excited. They value fair play and expect adults to adhere to rules. They are often inquisitive and need to express their opinions.
Tips for Supporting Students
💪 Empower your students to do their own work
Experiential learning puts the students at the center of the decision-making process. It is okay if they make mistakes as they go along!
🏅 Support all students in your group
Make sure that you engage with all of your students throughout the day! Language and learning aids are available onsite for students who may benefit from them.
🎉 Individuality and diversity are celebrated
Learning looks different for everyone, and our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds! Everyone has different lived experiences, and we can all learn from each other.
🧠 Remember that no one perspective is universal
You are encouraged to share your advice and experiences, but remember that there's no one 'correct' way to navigate life or finances.
📵 Be present
Set a good example for the students; please avoid cell phone use in BizTown shops
**For anything that needs to happen for JA Biztown to function, our team is working behind the scenes making sure it's getting done. So let the students work at their own pace, empower them in their learning, and have fun!**
Next, let's review some logistics about your day!
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