Chapter 7: Service-Learning and Literacy Motivation: Setting a Research Agenda

Literacy achievement is at the core in the current era of accountability in K-12 schools. Literacy achievement is more likely to occur when students are engaged with content and school, and service-learning has been found to be a promising strategy for increasing student engagement. This study explored the ways in which service-learning influenced middle school students to become more engaged in literacy and more motivated to learn. The dynamic interaction between student voice, perceived relevance of the service experience and students’ personal funds of knowledge that was prompted by participating in an environmental service-learning project led the students to become more motivated to learn in their regular classrooms. This research suggests multiple ways to advance the research agenda investigating the relationship between service-learning and academic outcomes.