Empowerment through Culturally Relevant Literacy
Scholars must maintain good attendance (no more than 3 unplanned absences)
Parents/guardians will need to attend at least 4 of 6 parent meetings or ensure a family representative over 18 is in attendance.
open house or orientation is required to attend before the scholar has “locked in” their spot.
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making a difference
Preventing summer reading loss and narrowing the achievement gap
LITERACY
SELF- ESTEEM
SOCIO
EMOTIONAL
SKILLS
LOVE OF LEARNING
CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT
As scholars enter the CDF Freedom Schools site at 8:00am, they are greeted and served a nutritious breakfast by caring staff and volunteers.
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With stomachs full, they gather for “Harambee!” which is a time when scholars, staff, and the community come together to celebrate themselves, each other, and the aim of learning and reading.
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In the classrooms, Servant Leader Interns facilitate engagement with the scholars around reading and theme-based, hand-on activities as outlined in the Integrated Reading Curriculum. Reading is the cornerstone of the program.
what's a day at freedom school like ?
IRC classrooms are divided by Levels: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th; sometimes the class is further divided into specific grades or ages. The Servant Leader Interns lead the scholars in reading several books throughout the summer.
Classroom activities related to the day’s reading use a variety of teaching methods including cooperative learning, role playing, and group discussions. These methods include reading aloud, creative writing, and visual arts. After a nutritious lunch, scholars participate in afternoon activities. These extracurricular activities and social action projects provide opportunities for children in CDF Freedom Schools to build confidence about the ways in which they, their peers, and role models can become empowered and capable. ​ These are well-planned and structured artistic pursuits of all forms; organized sports or recreation; hands-on activities promoting learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; culturally enriching activities related to the IRC themes; and field trips. Afternoon activities also include service and social action projects that foster awareness of community problems and ways of solving them.
Reading is the key that can unlock the door to children’s dreams and unlimited potential.
-THE CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND-FREEDOM SCHOOLS