Learning is Fun!!

Every Tuesday and Thursday the children come to the church building for some additional help and learning in our After School Program.  We do two sessions.  The 1st and 2nd graders come at lunch time as they are currently only going to school half days due to overcrowding in the schools.  (The 1st and 2nd grade teachers, have 50 students in their classroom during the morning session and another 50 students for the afternoon session.)  The 3rd through 6th graders come to the building after school in the afternoons.  Since the 1st and 2nd graders After School Program is during the lunch of the older kids, many of them come and hang out and help the younger kids with their activities.  Its so neat to see these older kids helping the younger children learn!

   


Many of our children have either been out of school for many years or started straight into the 1st grade without going to Kindergarten.  As a result, many of these children are missing the fundamentals (or have forgotten them) they need in order to be successful in the classroom.  We strive to give the children the children a fun learning environment where they can be encouraged to learn their ABC's and 123's.  The After School Program provides them the one on one attention they are missing in the classroom (and often at home).  Since school started, we have seen the children learn the skills they are missing but also gain the self-confidence they are taking back to the classroom!

   


One of the 1st and 2nd graders favorite activities is playing with the ABC and 123 puzzles.  The boys are always quick to take the numbers as it is definitely their favorites.  Several of the 1st graders did not go to Kindergarten.  These children started school not knowing their ABCs and not realizing a picture of one apple was the same as the number 1.  Thanks to the help of the puzzles and other fun letter activities, the children can now recite their alphabet (and read sight words) as well as recognize all their numbers.  Thanks Mrs. Michele for the great learning tool and the hours of fun you've provided for the kids.

   


Because of the large number of children in a classroom, the teachers are restricted in the types of learning activities they can offer to children.  Because of this, we have structured the After School Program in a way that allows children to participate in a variety of learning activities.  This particular week, Mom put together a lesson filled with shaving cream and laughter!

    


The object of the lesson was to use the shaving cream as a piece of paper so that the children could write their letters and sight words in it.  Most of the children had no idea what shaving cream was...so Gepher was the model.  The moment shaving cream was squirted on the table the room broke out in a chorus of laughter and giggles!

   

They experienced learning can be fun!!  There were a few letters and words written in shaving cream but I'm not sure if there was a lot of learning on this day.  I'm sure of two things...the kids had fun and they left with squeaky clean hands!

    


Thanks to the After School Program, we have seen these children begin to blossom.  We are seeing children who couldn't read...now can read.  We are seeing children volunteering to answer questions (even if they don't know the answer).  We are seeing children proud to show us their school work and the 100%'s they are getting.  We are seeing kids that don't want to leave and instead want to continue having fun and learning.  We are seeing children experience love, attention, and encouragement.  We are so thankful for the way the After School Program is changing these precious kids lives.