At BELL, learning doesn´t stop when school is over for the day. BELL After School Programs are supplemental educational programs designed to boost children´s academic and social achievements in a safe and supportive environment. In each of the last five years, every child entering BELL After School at the failing level advanced to a higher performance category. Last year, more than 80% achieved "proficient" or "advanced" levels in core skills.
BELL After School meets on weekdays for 2 to 3 hours per day at school-based sites. In the program, scholars receive a nutritious snack before certified teachers and tutors deliver one hour of literacy tutoring to scholars in small groups. BELL staff use a skills-based, multi-cultural curriculum to help scholars learn core reading and writing skills. Following literacy is one hour of math. In the 30 minutes of community time, scholars work on their homework, engage in team or enrichment activities and participate in special activities such as listening to guest speakers or cultural presentations.
Typical Day in the BELL After School Program *
Daily Schedule
Description
3:00 - 3:30
Snack and Community
Time
Community Time provides scholars the opportunity to develop positive, supportive peer relationships through group activities.
3:30 - 4:30
Literacy Activities
Literacy tutoring uses a skills-based curricula and a leveled readers' library of more than 100 multicultural children's books. Literacy activities also include journal writing, independent reading, and guided reading.
4:30 - 5:10
Homework and Math
Math tutoring uses a skills-based curriculum and a variety of manipulatives to develop an understanding of basic math concepts and skills. BELL also provides individualized help with school-assigned homework.
5:10 - 5:30
Enrichment Activities
Scholars end the day engaged in educational games and team building activities.
5:30
Session ends
Session ends and parents pick up children.
Fridays
Mentor Fridays
Special activities, including cultural, athletic or performing arts activities, art workshops, community service projects, and field trips.
BELL'S IMPACT STUDY
The BELL Summer program is scientifically proven to increase children's reading skills and levels of parental involvement. READ MORE
2008 ANNUAL REPORT
BELL's 2008 annual report is now available for download! FULL REPORT
June 21, 2010 The Wallace Foundation annouces a 3-year $4 million grant to BELL as part of its
initiative to provide students with more time for high-quality learning! Read more
June 20, 2010
New England Patriots players wrote their own plays for a day, coaching teams in the third annual BELL Bowl at Gillette Stadium to support summer learning. Read More
May 13 , 2010 The New York Life Foundation announces a four-year, $1,000,000 grant to support BELL's core literacy and math programming nationwide. Read the press release here
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