The Harlem Children’s
Zone
The Harlem Children’s zone is an organization that is based
in Harlem , New York
I think it is a wonderful idea that all the parents who give
birth at the neighborhood hospitals have the option to attend the baby college,
free of charge. It is wonderful that it is an effort provided for the up and
coming Harlem community. The Harlem community has re-vamped from being mainly a
poverty stricken area. Even with the renovations and upward move to becoming a
middle class area, there are still areas that are poverty stricken. The Harlem
Children’s Zone can be credited for serving those who are poverty stricken or
middle class. While viewing the site, I did not find any information that I
deemed controversial. However, I thought it was relevant to my profession that
100 percent of the Harlem Gems(pre-schoolers) were pre-k ready. I was awed by
this because it is so important for children to get the fundamental schooling
needed which enhances school readiness. I am always amazed by the number of
children entering Kindergarten that don’t colors, shapes, or the alphabet.
The Harlem Children’s Zone is a non-profit organization that
basically runs on donations and approved funding. I feel that the organization
has proven to economists and others the importance of education, being with 0-3
year olds or for 3rd graders(who by the had 83% either on or
exceeding on the statewide math exam) I believe that receiving funding from
outside sources and donations is not a problem considering that the
organizations has made strides with the youth and the community.
Hi, Jackie.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these details. It sounds like such a wonderful program with a great success rate. Kindergarten readiness is an important issue. I noticed in your post that you mention being concerned by kindergarteners who don't know their alphabet. Do you feel that children need to know all of their letters before kindergarten begins? What skills do you feel are necessary before kindergarten begins?
I think that it is important for the public to understand the headway that organizations, such as The Harlem Children's Zone can make and for us to support them as much as possible to continue making improvements.
ReplyDeleteHi Penelope,
ReplyDeleteRepition is what helps to make a K student successsful. It's not a requirement for K students to know the alphabet, but it is recommended. Flashcards and even songs can help the process of learning to read. So, to answer your question, yes, I think they should be able to identify at least some letters(if not all) of the alphabet. Thanks for responding!
I thinks it's a good idea that HCZ does this. Many parents don't understand the importance of knowing at what stages their children should be doing certain things. This could provide families with the information that they need so that they can observe their children, making sure they are developing at the right pace and seeking assistance if they are having concerns.
ReplyDeleteI am glade to hear how the children get the right support when entering kindergarten knowing the first steps of learning. Most of the children entering kindergarten is not ready 100% like they should be. During early stages creating a daily learning landscape helps the child process to grow. Great post!!
ReplyDelete