A day at freedom school
As scholars enter the CDF Freedom Schools site at 8:00am, they are greeted and served a nutritious breakfast by caring staff and volunteers.
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.
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.
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.
Through a research-based and multicultural program model provided by the Children’s Defense Fund, students are inspired participants, known as “scholars,” who spend their summer learning about and believing in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, and their communities, with hope, education, and action.
Freedom Schools is a free, six-week summer program for grades K-12 designed to increase:
LITERACY
SELF-ESTEEM
SOCIO EMOTIONAL SKILLS
LOVE OF LEARNING
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Less than 10% of children’s books published in the United States are about nonwhite children.
Each year, a group of outstanding authors and illustrators select from a diverse body of children’s literature books that will celebrate and nurture multiple racial identities and cultures — they represent the best work of the country’s finest writers and illustrators, and children across the nation deserve to have access to them.
The CDF Freedom Schools IRC books feature heroes, heroines, and settings that reflect the scholar’s cultural images and history. The books are developmentally appropriate; lend themselves to a range of interesting, creative activities; reflect the scholars’ own images; relate their authentic history, culture, and heritage through the eyes of children; introduce scholars to adults and children to make a difference in the lives of others;
offer scholars the encouragement to become involved in community service, not matter their own circumstance; help scholar explore fundamental issues of self-esteem; and, expand their capacity to dream and believe they can make their dreams reality.
By providing rich, culturally-relevant and high quality books that deepen children’s understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial, multicultural democratic society, CDF Freedom Schools scholars gain understanding and a sense of connection to the books they read, which fosters a love of reading. In addition, scholars enrolled in CDF Freedom Schools receive weekly distribution of books to build their home library.
At the center of the CDF Freedom Schools program is a research-based Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC) that fosters literacy. Meeting the common core standards, lessons in the IRC consist of project-based learning activities and include opportunities for civic engagement, conflict resolution, and social action skill development. The IRC is designed to excite, motivate, stimulate, arouse, expose, and inspire! It is not designed to teach the mechanics of reading.
The goal set forth in the IRC is to help readers and non-readers fall in love with books: the stories, the characters, the ideas, and the values; and to give non-readers an overwhelming desire to read — which is a basic step toward doing it. The program will have succeeded if the children go away with a thirst for reading.
The IRC is also an excellent vehicle for leading children to higher levels of thinking and expression. IRC instruction is delivered by college-aged Servant Leader Interns who serve a multigenerational mentors for small classes of no more than ten scholars.
harambee !
let's pull together
Harambee! is a Kiswahili word that means “Let’s pull together.” During the CDF Freedom Schools day, Harambee! is a time of informal sharing when scholars and staff come together to celebrate themselves and each other. This time also allows community members to visit and see what CDF Freedom Schools is all about, and to do so from the best seat in the house! If you are interested in visiting during Harambee! or becoming a Read Aloud guest reader, please reach out to us.
The Harambee! communal gathering time always includes the following components:
Read Aloud
Guests from the community are invited to come and read to the scholars. The guest reader is introduced to the scholars, highlighting the person’s role in the community. The Read Aloud time exposes children to the practice and joy of reading, using a favorite book of the guest reader to demonstrate that reading is important to everyone. This time also allows community members to visit and see what CDF Freedom Schools is all about, and to do so from the best seat in the house!
Motivational Song
No matter what day it is, the scholars, staff and guests of a Freedom School site will rise together and sing together “Something Inside So Strong.” This song infuses every day and every participant with a positive message about the potential they have within. As the scholars sing and move to the music, they focus on positive words, experiences and attitudes. This is an essential tool for how CDF Freedom Schools create an environment of Social Emotional Wellness.
Cheers, Chants & Recognitions
After the song, scholars are led in Cheer & Chants which reinforce the positive messages they deserve to hear. This time really gets the group “hype!” We then take time to recognize special occasions, accomplishments, birthdays, and just making it to Freedom School for another day of learning.
Moment of Silence
During this time, scholars pause each morning for a time of reflection and introspection. The pace of the staff slows so as to make sure that the positive words that scholars sang and chanted land fully in their minds and hearts. After Harambee! the scholars are wide awake and ready to begin their day of learning in the IRC classrooms. Harambee! can be a great time for the community to come and see a CDF Freedom Schools site in operation.
REGISTRATION
REQUIRMENTS
All Winston-Salem Freedom Schools are free.
Registration for all Winston-Salem Freedom Schools sites begins late-February or early-March. Scholars with remaining eligibility at their previous site are registered first.
For families who receive communication from their WS/FCS school recommending that their child attend a summer enrichment program, attend reading camp, or seek private reading tutoring: Winston-Salem Freedom Schools is an approved WS/FCS summer enrichment program, and can work with your child to provide reading support. Families of such students need to communicate with their Freedom School site leaders and the school principal to make the best plan for the student.
Our college-level interns, Servant Leader Interns (SLIs), are trained intensely on the Freedom School curriculum, classroom management and conflict resolution. However, we do not provide professional teaching certifications to our SLIs. If a family has concerns about whether Winston-Salem Freedom Schools can properly support their child's physical, mental, or emotional health and needs, reach out to us before enrolling. We are happy to provide a list of alternative summer programs that best fits their needs.
Child must have completed Kindergarten (rising 1st grader) to register
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.
Families must attend their site's Open House before the scholar has locked in their spot.
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TWelve freedom school sites
IN WINSTON-SALEM/ FORSYTH COUNTY
ASHLEY ACADEMY
ELEMENTARY
Hosted at Ashley Academy Elementary Serving Kindergarten-5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
REASHARD NORWOOD
CARTER G. WOODSON
SCHOOL
Hosted at Carter G. Woodson Serving Kindergarten through 5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
DEBORAH GAINES
COOK LITERACY MODEL SCHOOL
Hosted at Cook Literacy Model School Serving Kindergarten-5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
CHIQUITA WADELINGTON
FOREST
PARK
ELEMENTARY
Hosted at Forest Park Elementary School Serving Kindergarten through 5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
DR.CHARLOTTE LEACH
KIMBERLEY
PARK
ELEMENTARY
Hosted at Kimberley Park Elementary School Serving Kindergarten -5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
TAMEKA DIXON
KONNOAK
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hosted at Konnoak Middle School Serving 6-8th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
CAROLYN HIGHSMITH
L.I.T. CITY
FREEDOM
SCHOOL
Hosted at United Metropolitian Missionary Baptist Church Serving 6th-10th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
REV. TERRANCE HAWKINS
MINERAL SPRINGS MIDDLE
Hosted by the TURN Enrichment Center at Mineral Springs Middle Serving 6th through 8th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
CARRIE WOODS
OLD TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Hosted at Old Town Elementary School Serving Kindergarten through 5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
DR. LINDA WINIKOFF
SUNNYSIDE FREEDOM
SCHOOL
Hosted at Anthony’s Plot Community Serving Kindergarten through 12th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
REV. RUSS MAY
T.U.R.N.
FREEDOM
SCHOOL
Hosted by the TURN Enrichment Center at Calvary Hills Church of Greater Deliverance Serving Kindergarten through 5th grade students
LEADERSHIP & CONTACT
CARRIE WOODS