All right, all right! I know, I haven't posted on anything related to economics and health or education for a while.
Or like two months...
But it's only because school started and I'm working on a new project! It's economics related and education related!
It is my baby, and the only program in my life so far--that if I start, I will be happy.
Here are a few details:
The
organization, called ALMas ("Ayudandoles Lograr Mas") would gather
bilingual Spanish-speakers on the University of Chicago's campus to
provide pre-school ELL students (or students the school describes as
academically at risk given their familial, language, and income
background) of hispanic/latino descent with extra educational enrichment
a focus on literacy development and access to academically and
educationally rich environments of college mentors and role-models. The
program would most likely take place within a HeadStart program
attached to a public school.
I've
also had the honor and pleasure to meet with Molly Thayer, Director of
Literacy for the UChicago's Urban Education Institute (UEI), and she
gave me the UEI's commitment to train students/volunteers participating
in my club to administer and teach according to the UEI’s comprehensive
STEP education evaluation for students in prek-3rd grade--so that
members and I can now move forward crafting an actual curriculum and
materials list and exercises for the pilot-program. Of course, we are
still in the planning stages of the program with curriculum development
at the forefront of our efforts right now.
And just as exciting, I
just spoke with Lucy Hall, UChicago's Jumpstart Program Coordinator, and
she's agreed to share with me Jumpstart's curriculum and lesson plans,
as well as committed to train the core group of my volunteers on how to
work within a pre-school environment with children, how to administer a
structured lesson plan, and provided acces to DePaul University's
Jumpstart that works with ELL students of Latino descent.
ALSO, GUESS WHAT?! I MET DR. EUGENE GARCIA, the same researcher that I've referenced in the previous post! He was excited about my plan and introduced me to some heavy hitters within the education community working on early childhood development for Latino children.
Slowly, things are coming
together to provide an environment for young DLL latino students to grow
intellectually, socially, and academically through literacy development
and mentorship.
