ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM (ALP

Following our post-Pandemic assessments, we revised our program to include math. The Literacy Project was now the Accelerated Learning Program. We engaged in an intensive training program for our coaches that included detailed lesson plans with learning objectives and criteria of success, strict adherence to Structured Literacy Practices utilized by the Science of Reading and weekly targets for lessons in fundamental mathematics. Coaches spent every Friday afternoon reviewing and assessing the week, preparing for the following week and receiving further training in best practices for teaching English and Math.

English

ALP trains teachers in the best practices for teaching English and Math. Originally, we taught only English, however, learning losses were so great in both subjects following the Pandemic that we added math to the program beginning in 2022.

Our learning coaches work in teams of 5, 3 English coaches, 1 Math coach and 1 computer coach. The travel by motorbike, car, and bus to spend a day at each participating school.

Our English program utilizes the core practices of the Science of Reading an evidence-based program recognized internationally as the best method for teaching English. It includes 5 basic components of learning to read:

  1. Phonemic awareness

  2. Phonics

  3. Fluency

  4. Vocabulary

  5. Comprehension

We use explicit, direct instruction that is sequential, structured, and multi-sensory. Each student receives a set of phonics books written by CR and an ALP notebook for their work.

Math

Our math program begins with counting, shapes, and comparison, progressing through the basic math applications and ending with factors, fractions and integers for the upper primary students. We encourage students to develop a strong number sense and to participate in number talks. Each students receives a math notebook.

Teaching Practices:

  1. Teaching units: limited to 10 minutes (the average 10 year old can focus for only 10 minutes at a time).

  2. Relevant game or activity: follows each teaching unit.

  3. Daily read aloud story: for English class instills a love of reading, teaches vocabulary, provides general background information and models good reading practices.

  4. Learning stations: provide independent learning activities involving teaching units for the day in both English and Math.

  5. Small group Sessions (6 students): allow coaches to work with students individually.

  6. Exit tickets: require students to answer a question about something learned that day and help coaches to assess students’ understanding of the day’s lessons.

COMPUTER EDUCATION:

Teams travel with 5 laptops to each school. After becoming familiar with the laptop students in 4th and 5th standard begin with Paint and progress through Microsoft Word and basic keyboarding skills. The also learn to access the learning materials on the internet and participate in the Hour of Code, a world-wide day of coding each year.

reading rickshaw

Our students live in a book desert. None of the schools where we teach have libraries. There are few community libraries and none have children’s books. Only 2% of our students own a book. Our Reading Rickshaw program enables us to provide limited access to quality reading materials during library time once each month.