Shadowing Ayat

What’s one habit that makes someone especially effective at this site?

One habit is knowing how to calm yourself down/regulate when things start to get out of control, you have to remember that when dealing with middle schoolers they’re going to be kinda immature and cause a little trouble but it’s not intentional yk they’re kids, but u can’t let it get to you, so learn to regulate your emotions and when things get chaotic immediately redirect and don’t be afraid to ask for help from volunteers they’re there to support you

What’s something you’ve learned about working with this age group that you wish you knew when you first started?

I wish i knew how to build more of a boundary with them, meaning it’s okay to make jokes and stuff but they should still see you as an authority figure at the end of the day, you should have balance between friend and mentor and you can say no and set structures, this is solely for their benefit so do what’s in their best interest

What is the habit, and how will I intentionally practice it during my next site visit? (Give an example)

As a Site Coordinator, the habit I would focus on is regulating my own emotions during moments of chaos so I can respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. During a site visit, if a group of middle schoolers becomes loud or distracted during an activity, I would first calm myself and then calmly pause the activity to restate expectations. I might redirect students by assigning clear roles or transitioning to a more structured task.