Programs

 

Reading Edge

Reading Edge is a high-impact and multi-dimensional outreach program that brings the excitement and novelty of discovery-based literacy, technology, and arts learning to both formal and informal education settings. In Reading Edge, we meld elements of State Standards-based language arts, dramatic arts, and technology curricula into a two-hour per day, twice weekly, six week-long residency program.

The program sequence begins with a riveting Reader's Theatre performance of a classic piece of children's literature. However, this drama is not just meant to be watched and imitated. Instead, the performance serves as a memorable and inspirational jumping-off point for children, teachers, and program staff to delve into the disciplines that made the performance great! They learn by doing, and their learning is enriched by the connections they make with actors, dancers, musicians, artists and technologists each week.

The quality and quantity of learning for participants in our program is deeper and more long-lasting because we are not a one-shot, spray-and-pray outreach program. Instead RE's programmatic methodology incorporates the elements of best teaching practice:

      » Relationship-building over time between students and program staff.
      » High-interest, interdisciplinary, and thematic program content.
      » Students learning by doing.
      » Staff modeling how to learn rather than how to teach.
      » Process-oriented facilitation of individual and group learning.
      » Student engagement in a longitudinal process of personal reflection and
         programmatic self-assessment.

We also maximize opportunities for learning success by providing students and teachers with a variety of written and on-line extension activities and assignments they can use to maintain high levels of interest and productivity between each program session.

Special thanks to our sponsors, for their continued commitment to being the leader in America's campaign to raise literacy levels: