Welcome to the Habitat for Humanity of Trenton Learning Lab!
Learning Lab Coordinator: Kiya Green
Schedule:
Monday - Thursday
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
The Learning Lab is funded by the East Trenton Collaborative which is a group of non-profit and community development organizations whose mission is to strengthen the physical, social, and economic fabric of the East Trenton community. The Learning Lab is one of many projects developed by the ETC in an effort to do this.
There are many ways that your child can participate and be involved at the Learning Lab. Your child can have a schedule designed to fit both their academic needs an personal interests. Take a look at what is avilable and you decide!
A. One-on-One Tutoring is provided everyday in half hour sessions with younger students and hour sessions with older ones. If you would like your child to participate in the Art Academy, then they will not be able to have one-on-one tutoring on their registration form. When your child is not with their one-on-one tutor or at the Art Academy, then they will have the opportunity to participate in group centered activities outlined below in the Learning Lab's list of courses.
For students in grades K-2, the primary focus will be building a strong Balanced Literacy. Balanced Literacy means to have efficient skills in both reading and writing. For students grades 3-5, the primary focus will be NJ ASK Test Prep. For students in grades 6-8, the primary focus will be in Science, Math, and Problenm Solving Skills with Real World Application. The tutor that works with your child will be guided by a weekly work plan. This work plan will indicate what your child's targeted skills are for that week. These needs are identified from reading, writing, and math assessments given to your child upon entering the program. These assessments can also be produced by your child's classroom teacher by request.
B. The Learning Lab is the opportunity for your child to be engaged in instruction, group activities, and peer interaction. The four courses offered at this time are described below.
The Habitat Heartbeat. Every other Monday- This will be a communtiy newsletter written by the children. This will be a fun way to reinforce writing skills. It will be a great opportunity to give them a voice and showcase their creativity. Hopefully, their awreness about community and the world abroad will be heightened. This will also be an eye opener to topics and issues that are important in the world of a child.
Science Explosion. Tuesdays- This will be a course heavily focused on nature. We will read books, watch videos, do experiments, and investigate the world around us according to the theme of the month. Students will become familiar with the scientific process and work in groups on science projects. This course will also include walking trips in the neighborhood surrounds.
Math Attack. Wednedays- Here, students will strengthen their basic skills. The focus is time an accuracy - how long needed for completeion and how well was it completed. Some of the other times children will work on are: word problems, creative problem solving, math in the real world, challenging mind games, and critical thinking skills. Students will be required to keep a math journal.
C. Art Academy is provided on Thursdays. Depending on instructor availability, it may not always be able to be scheduled this way. In the event that the Academy has to be held on a different day, then the course that it has to switch with will be held on Thursday of the week. In the Academy, children will work on incredible projects with professional artisits. Some projects will be group centered and large in context. Others will be individual and completed within a day. Your child will be exposed to a variety of art techniques and artisitic styles opening up a whole new world for them.
This summer was the launch of the program and it proved to be a hit with the children. One month students worked with a ceramic instructor. They made all different kinds of ceramic figures, pinch pots and even a claymation DVD. The next month children workded with a local tag artist to create, desgin, and paint four large murals. These were very impressive and will be on local display. The Art Academy presents an amazing opportunity for your child to be exposed to the wonderful worlds of art where they discover just how talented they are themselves. At the end of each month with their instructor, the children have an open house where parents and staff are invited. Refreshments are served. Artists are able to meet and greet with all.
** We do not complete homework with your child. Why not?**
Your child's education is a team effort. Everyone has to be involved and "in the know." Homework is important for many reasons. It provides an opportunity for children to review and practice lessons learned that day. It gives them the responsibility of being prepared for class. It also develops skills that will help them think and learn independently.
This is also the teacher's way to gather more information. It helps them learn what your child does best and where your child may need help. But, almost more importantly, homework is often the parent's only window into what their child learned during the day and what skills they could practice together. Your role is a critical one and should not be replaced. When a child has their parent's support, they will often show more interest, learn more, get higher grades, learn to be responsible, and succeed. It can be hard at the end of the day but make the extra effort. You and your child will be rewarded for it.
Children that can read and follow directions should be able to complete their homework independently with minor issues. Homework should be a direct reflection of what your child's classroom teacher taught for th day. When children have major problems with homework, they have not grasped the skill that was taught and you should probably send a note indicating what was of challenge for your child. The programs provided at the Learning Lab are designed to strengthen the age-appropriate skill set of each child. This wil ensure that what they know is authentic an not only based on the completion of a homework sheet.
Coming Soon
"Summer Program"
Monday-Thursday 9 am - 2 pm
July 5 - August 25