Extra-Curricular Activities

The whole point of having extracurricular activities at school is to expose students to different experiences and allow them to develop skills that they will need in the real world. At the same time, extracurricular activities allow students to have fun and practice their social skills.

As a teacher, cultivating an atmosphere of fun and learning through an extracurricular activity allows me to see my students in a different, more casual atmosphere. Similarly, they get to see me – the teacher – having fun and being relaxed too.

The opportunity to share this type of exchange on a regular basis fosters a deeper type of respect between us and this rapport unquestionably spills over into the regular classroom.

Throughout my field experiences I have taken part in either aiding or establishing extra-curricular activities.

Through these experiences I learned that while extracurricular activities are designed to be fun, it is also important to communicate my expectations to the students.

• Can they call out?

• What time do we meet?

• What will happen if they are late?

• How should they enter the space?

• Can they quit once they join?

I also learned that I do not necessarily have to lead an extracurricular activity alone. In fact, partnering with another staff member could prove to be far more fun. In the future I will look for another staff member who shares similar interests and skills that I do. I can seek out a fellow staff member who might be able to take on responsibilities with me, so that I would not have to run the entire extracurricular activity on my own.

Extra-curricular activities provide strong motivation for students to perform well in your class and to participate in the broad social and intellectual life of the school! I love the idea of increasing school spirit and making students excited about attending every day because they are involved!