Leaving to Learn Opportunties could include:
  • Group Visits - small group visits to local businesses and organizations, field trips hosted by scientists or other professionals, outdoor recreation, service learning, and more.
  • Interviews - an individual ILC student sets up a time to meet with a professional to ask questions pertaining to what the mentor does and the path they took to get there.
  • Job Shadows - a mentor/business provides an opportunity for a student to visit their workplace. Students observe, assist when appropriate, and gain a sense of what the mentor’s job is like for a day or a series of days.
  • Internships - where a mentor provides a regular opportunity to have the student engage in a work-based learning experience. The timing and duration of an internship is flexible depending on each mentor’s availability.
service learning

ILC Students participating in a service learning opportunity

From our mentors:

“(The ILC student) worked with students in many ways. She provided in-class behavior support for a student with Autism, she worked 1-1 with academics with a student who has Autism and behavior disorders, she worked with 4 students on gross motor skills, and she provided academic support in reading, writing, or mathematics as needed within the Discovery Room. (The student) also provided organizational support for our classroom by making copies, prepping materials, setting up snack time, and taking charge of read-aloud time. She shadowed another parapro who specializes in behavior support, and provided writing support for students with learning disabilities outside of the Discovery Room. She attended at-home services for a student with behavior disorder. The list goes on and on.....”

“Personally I believe the program is fulfilling because the student can get a glimpse of real world expectations. Professionally they can be a real asset when an extra set of hands is needed”

-ILC Mentor