Houston A+ Blog

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Education's Partnership for Family Involvement in Education  report that children who participate in quality after-school programs develop better social skills and learn to handle conflicts in more socially acceptable ways. Many students' reading and math scores improved as they focused attention on areas in which they were having difficulties.  "Passport to Success" also contributes to improved  academic success and increased self-confidence.  The program created by the Houston A+ Challenge provides a safe, rich, and fun environment for students to continue their learning.

Six Houston A+ Challenge schools are sites for the "Passport to Success" After-School program funded by the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast on their campus.  The following is a listing of the schools and campus contacts for this initiative:

"Passport to Success" provides an enriched learning environment, not simply an extension of the school day.  The goals of this after-school enrichment program is  to help students develop the intrinsic motivation needed to complete assignments on their own, and develop the habits needed to become and remain a life-long learner.   The model for the Houston A+ Challenge "Passport to Success" after-school program is customized to each campus and its student body.  However, each program must include at least one of the following components: 

• Pre-assessment - Each student is pre-assessed in reading and mathematics during the first week of the program.  The student assessment is conducted using standardized computer evaluation software that is aligned with the State of Texas' standards called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
  
• Homework Lab - Students receive help and supervision as they complete their homework assignments.
  
• Literacy Lab - The Literacy Lab is used to teach topics in reading, writing, and mathematics.  The lab uses hands-on lessons and manipulatives along with one-to-one tutoring.  Examples of Literacy Lab topics include punctuation, syllabication, synonyms and homonyms, and multiplication tables.
  
• Computer Lab - Students have access to several innovative software packages that teach the State of Texas' standards in math using various methods and strategies.
  
• R.O.P.E.S. - Students participate in this experiential learning experience to help develop higher order thinking skills, work in groups, manage conflict, and become team players.  TRIBES, karate, or similar programs that teach team building skills may be substituted.
  
• Art Activities I &II - Academic concepts students learn during the school day will be reinforced through the arts.  School may elect to have a science program in place of Art II.
  
• Journal Writing - Students write daily reflections and practice writing letters to mentors.
  
• Mentor E-mail - Mentors correspond weekly with the students via e-mail on a weekly basis.
  
• Leisure Reading - Students are encouraged to read books of their choice.  In addition, guest readers are brought in at the elementary level, and guest speakers are brought in at the middle level.
  
• Field Trips - Field trips are scheduled one Saturday every month.
  
• Success University - To complement the student's after-school program, a concurrent program of parent classes will be offered.  Parent classes are held one Saturday every even month from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  The curriculum for these classes stresses family literacy.
  
• Whole Family Retreats - At least twice a year the field trip and parent classes combine on the same day to create a whole family retreat.  These retreats provide an opportunity for students to rotate through the "Passport to Success" program with their families.
  
• Art Activities I - These activities are a collaborative effort between the "Passport to Success" program  and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
  
• Art Activities II - The "Passport to Success" program and residencies of various Houston area artists such as Young Audiences, Nuestra Palabra; Teatro Bilingual, and Multi-Ethnic Cultural Arts offer activities to student participants.
  
• Micro-Society - Students participate in a mini-community that includes a courtroom, a bank, a post office, a television studio, a performing arts center, a print shop, a newspaper, a micro retail mall, and various service industries.  Students are afforded opportunities to explore careers to use academic skills in real-life problem solving situations, and to develop social skills necessary in everyday life.  Lessons that are brought to life in this way are boldly imprinted in a student's mind, making them more fun as well as more enduring.

For information on a specific school, please contact the "Passport to Success" contact listed above. 

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• the Annenberg Foundation " Passport to Success" After-School Program...