Freedom Scholars Learning Center, Inc.

In our classrooms our Servant leader Interns (SLI's) and Junior Servant Leader Interns (JSL's) facilitate the Integrated Reading Curriculum (I.R.C.). The IRC involves reading and theme-based hands-on activities that outlines/highlight multi-cultural and inclusive children's books/stories throughout the summer. IRC is 2 hours and 45 minutes with our level I & II reading 3-5 books per week (over a 5 week period) and our Level III's reading 1-3 chapter books per week (over a 5 week period). These books feature heroes and heroines, settings that reflect the scholar's own cultural images, and HISTORY. Classroom activities related to the day's reading use a variety of teaching models, such as cooperative learning, role playing, writing, or visual arts (drawing, sketching, and designing). The wide range of activities ensure that children with diverse experiences, talents, and levels of confidence in reading and verbal expression are actively engaged. IRC is truly an "all skill" centered approach to reading instruction! #CDFFreedomschools #FSLCFreedomschool #integratedreadingcurriculum #summerreading #servantleaders #juniorservantleaders

As the new school year shine and all our babies are excited to thrive and make change in their new/returning learning environments...we have to give a HUGE thank you and much appreciation to all our Read Aloud guest who came and read during the FINALE week of our summer literacy enrichment program. Monica Graham, CMBS, CMC Demond Meeks (County Legislator), Pastor Ann Kemper, Raegena C. Lawrence, Alyshia Thomas (RCSD), and Colin Harris (Medical Technician)...we are extremely thankful for you spending the time with us storytelling and filling our scholars minds with words and motivation. It was a great summer to start out with and your presence during our FINALE week made it a strong finish!!!! Ase! #Readaloud #Harambee #Freedomscholarslearningcenter #CDFFreedomschools

With 59% of black and brown scholars in 4th grade reading at below basic levels in Rochester (NAEP)…..Word RICH was born! During this summer we wanted to be more intentional in addressing reading development as we combatted summer reading loss. This led to us designing our very own literacy diagnostic program we called Word RICH. Word RICH (Reading Intervention through Cultural Heritage) is a literacy intervention program specifically tailored to accompany and empower the Freedom School Literacy Model. The program marries the cultural and linguistic values of our children with effective and commonly-used literacy diagnostic and intervention practices. This includes rhythmic, kinesthetic, multimedia, and cultural knowledge-based approaches to further develop scholars’ reading abilities. While a primary goal of Word RICH is to help scholars accomplish grade-level literacy through the science of reading, the ultimate goal is to help students wield the gift of literacy to practice the science of freedom. Word R.I.C.H. (aka Literacy Cyphers) #literacyforall #literacy #doingourpart #intervention #highlightofthesummer #freedomscholarslearningcenter #loveofreading #CDFfreedomschools

As we again wrap up two more full weeks of FUN and exciting literacy enrichment I would like to thank all the wonderful Read Aloud guest who continue to come out and celebrate HARAMBEE with us! As always, your commitment to helping kids dream, be courageous, and be civic has created a sense of fearless leaders that are looking forward to champion today and tomorrow! Having our scholars be able to hear your stories really makes read aloud not only emphatic but very meaningful! At FSLC we are again and always truly blessed and for that we say THANK YOU…and please come again✊🏿 Aśe Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith, DSW, LMSW Shaun Nelms, Ed.D. (Bro got his groove on with us 🕺🏿) Erica Friedman Coburn Maya Crane, MSL Anne Rosdahl Ashara Baker, MSL Senator Samra Brouk Honorable Judge Van White Dr. Zhen Bai (UR Dept. Of Computer Science)

As we wrap up two full weeks of fun, summer literacy enrichment, social action and team building, I would like to thank all the wonderful Read Aloud guest who came and celebrated HARAMBEE with us! Your kind words of encouragement, dreaming, civic responsibility, family, community, career goals, and most importantly…READING really gave our scholars excitment about their current and future aspirations! We are truly honored and blessed! Aśe✊🏿 Jeremy Cooney MALIK EVANS Shane Wiegand Brandon White Theo Adams, M.A. 🖊CaTyra Polland, M.A. Ann Marie White Dr. Tyana Velazquez-Smith, Ph.D. Simeon Banister #readaloud #cdffreedomschools #freedomscholarslearningcenter #Harambee

Our friends and community partners at the Freedom Scholars Learning Center, Inc. (FSLC), including our Human Development Associate Professor Joyce Duckles, who serves as an FSLC board member, led a demonstration calling for proactive laws and action against book banning. The July 17 “Day of Social Action” community event at the Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester featured youth speakers, insights from community leaders, and a silent “read-in,” encouraging participants to read a banned book. Watch the News 8 coverage below. | #CommunityEngagement #DayOfSocialAction

Sharing with our community that our National Day of Social Action event yesterday was covered by the News 8 team! As a reminder, this year was the 60th year of National Day of Social Action in partnership with Children's Defense Fund. For the 2024 NDSA theme/campaign we focused on protecting the freedom to read!!! During the height of banning books in America (4,000 +) CDF and all partners are combating these policies by showcasing acts of activism that will be led by our scholars and servant leaders. Thanks again to everyone who made the event yesterday great! The FSLC Team https://lnkd.in/dNFCcyEH

Over the weekend we had the chance to endure a professional development session that examined approach and well being as a focal point in effective classsroom management. Deborah Hanmer, from Breakthrough Leadership Consulting, brought in some valuable insight pertaining to the well known PBIS Tier Chart and many other related factors that play a role in how a scholar behave. May I add….she also brought in ALOT of laughs😂🤣😂🤣 #professionaldevelopment #breakthrougconsulting #Seedsowersandstorytellers #afterschoolprograms #freedomscholarslearningcenter

In Seed Sowers we’ve come up with a unique way to tutor scholars on number sense! Over the last month our team has created a positive reinforcement financial system where scholars earn our historical “freedom bucks” by engaging in The Freedom School Way. This involves scholars receiving financial incentives from random acts of kindness, showcasing effective decision making skills, being a leader, working on good behavior, completing assignments, etc…. When scholars earn their dollars/cents they have to record each deposit and withdrawl in their personalized check book (transaction record)! Each scholar has their own bank we’re all the money they have earned is managed. The items we provide in the Scholar Market are all DONATED (if you would like to donate 🙏🏿 let us know) and there is an assortment of costume jewelry, keychains, clothing, shoes, books, book bags, toys, and all sorts of widgets. The EXCITEMENT we get to enjoy seeing them taken owenership of their “BAG” (as they call it), pay attention to their wants v.s. their needs, and mathing at the sametime…simply AMAZING! Sometimes their more excited about that than actually purchasing items! #afterschoolprograms #finacialliteracy #freedomschool #seedsowersandstorytellers