A Day at Philadelphia Freedom Schools A typical morning at Philadelphia Freedom Schools begins with Breakfast with Staff and progresses to a rousing session of Harambee which means “let’s pull together” in Kiswahili. Harambee includes a read aloud offered by a person in the community, chants, cheers, theme song, recognitions (of achievements or simple acknowledgments of good deeds), a moment of silence, and announcements. Harambee is followed by the PFS Pathways™ Curriculum. The curriculum incorporates opening activities, culturally based literature and math components, cooperative group activities, social action, and conflict resolution activities. Following the curriculum, the children and staff engage in D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything And Read) which is 15 minutes of sustained silent reading of a book of the child and staff’s choice. The Afternoon Component The afternoon begins with the students having lunch with staff. In these informal times, staff and students continue to bond in a more personable way with one another. Afternoon Activities are enrichment sessions that the site plans and include social action through media literacy, drama, drumming, computer, arts & crafts, mural arts, Capoiera, Chess, and any other talents that the sites can tap from existing staff or additional staff called Specialists. Once each week, students have the opportunity to explore Philadelphia and neighboring cities on exciting field trips. Afternoon Activities are designed to reinforce principles that are visited in the morning. They are also designed to build skills that are displayed at the end of every Freedom Summer in a Finale which shows parents and community members what the children have been learning over the course of the summer. |