A strong foundation during the years 3 – 6 helps children develop necessary skills for later school success. Using the High Scope model of active learning, Strength for the Journey teaches 30 preschoolers and kindergarteners in our Jamao learning center. We are currently in the accreditation process with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education.
During the after school hours, public school children participate in the Strength for the Journey Leadership Academy. Children are invited to participate based on motivation and responsibility. Future leaders in our 7 – 11 year old classes learn values such as organization, planning, problem solving, compassion, and fairness in fun lesson formats including games, role plays, books, writing activities and discussions.
Students ages 11-14 in our older leadership group grew up in Strength for the Journey classes, attending for as many as 7 years. Having acquired the values of leadership, they now are responsible for selecting, planing, implementing, and evaluating a community service project each month.
Many public school children as old as 9 – 13 years are illiterate. Strength for the Journey offers free reading tutoring to these children during the summer months. Working in small groups, students are able to achieve basic reading skills by the end of our program
Other summer school offerings include two levels of math classes, taught in the form of games such as Yahtzee and addition/subtraction/multiplication bingo, in addition to a basketball camp.
Children cannot learn if their basic needs are not met. Thus, at various times during the year Strength for the Journey travels to other Jamao small mountain communities to donate clothing, shoes, and/or food to the poor.
During summer months, Strength for the Journey offers parenting classes to our preschool parents. In these classes, parents learn discipline skills, how to support their child’s education, how to read to their child when they, themselves, are illiterate, and how to talk with their child to develop language skills.
