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| | | | Site Information | | | Non-profit after-school program for low-income and at-risk children. Information about programs at locations in Dallas and Austin.
| Heart House has developed a program of Citizenship through Thematic Learning. In this program, we encourage children to be active, involved, and responsible Americans with a democratic citizenship perspective. Citizenship through Thematic Learning also focuses on enhancing individual self-esteem and group membership, honoring diversity, and celebrating differences.
Research shows that early exposure to literature is an excellent vehicle for developing, enhancing, and enriching lifelong, active literacy. Our objectives are to integrate an assortment of literary genres into the thematic learning environment and encourage children’s awareness of their own significance in their communities and in the world.
Thematic teaching in a clubhouse environment stimulates critical and creative thinking. The collaborative learning groups encourage a team effort for completion of authentic assessment projects every few weeks. Technology, health & urban safety, the arts, physical education, and character development are all woven into our monthly themes. Field trips and special guests provide informal, hands-on, working experiences and enrich prior knowledge.
Here are the program components we incorporate into our monthly thematic learning:
Tutoring and Homework Assistance: In addition to enhancing educational and career opportunities, academic excellence can raise a child’s self esteem and improve self image. At Heart House, the first hour of each day is devoted to homework and quiet study. The staff and volunteers provide the children with tutoring and homework help. Incentives are provided for good grades, success on tests, and other academic achievements.
Art Enrichment: People who are deprived of arts education tend to lack a deep appreciation of history, beauty, and other cultures. By providing art enrichment activities, Heart House strives to teach children the value of creative self-expression and its availability to them on a daily basis. Heart House’s art programs combine fun discussions, art history, hands-on art projects, and slide shows featuring a variety of art forms. There are occasional field trips to museums and galleries as well as guest artists and workshops.
Health & Urban Safety Education: Staff members provide presentations and activities to the children on various health & safety issues, specifically developed for the at-risk children we serve and the issues they face in their daily lives. These issues include emergency situations, water safety, electrical safety, street safety, personal hygiene and nutrition, and dealing with strangers. Heart House also works closely with the community to increase neighborhood safety. Heart House is more than a safe environment for children. It is part of the community, and it is dedicated to creating a safe place for everyone to live.
Computer Literacy: According to the International Society for Technology in Education, prior to completion of second grade, every child should be able to demonstrate certain basic computer skills in order to succeed academically and vocationally. However, most Heart House children do not have a computer in the home and have limited access to computers at school. Each Heart House provides a computer-learning center with skills assessment, computer curriculum, educational programming, web design classes, and child-safe internet access.
Nutrition: Our young people are offered a nutritious snack or meal every day and are encouraged to socialize with each other and with adults during snack time.
An Opportunity to Serve: Our community service projects provide an opportunity for each Heart House child to enhance self-esteem and develop a sense of personal competence and efficacy, engagement with school, and social responsibility.
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| | | Contact Information | | | Heart House 6602 Gentle Wind Lane Dallas, Texas 75248, Tel: 972-661-3514 Fax: 214-853-5237 http://www.hearthouse.org/ E-mail Heart House | | | | If you're the owner or webmaster of this site then please Claim this Link Once you claim this link and we approve it you will be the only one who can modify the listing in the future. |
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| | Date Added: Sat Sep 06 2003 | | Last Updated: Tue Aug 23 2005 | | | | |
