| Our Work |
Mission |
| Who
are we?
We are parents, state-certified teachers, and volunteers
who are working to build stronger individuals, families, and neighborhoods.
Our goal is to help develop healthy, capable communities that can
create the opportunities their citizens need to thrive in education,
economic, social, and civic arenas.
What do we do?
We think of our work as street-level research and development. We
start by creating a a nurturing learning environment. We equip it
with the right learning tools, including the most appropriate interactive
technologies. Our programs are based on starting and building long-term
relationships with the families that participate in the broad and
exciting range of learning activities.
With our partners, we work
to build stronger individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Our
focus is on families—the cornerstone of healthy communities.
We teach. As state-certified teachers, we believe we can teach anybody
almost anything. |
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| Our mission
is to provide family-based educational opportunities that allow parents
and their children to strengthen themselves and their communities. |
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| Program
Areas |
Early Childhood
Education |
| |
Infant/Toddler Program
Our trained and experienced teachers provide
a warm and caring environment that attends to every child’s
basic needs and promotes their individual developmental growth.
Teachers plan for and encourage active and exploratory learning.
Low teacher/child ratios allow teachers to create strong bonds with
their students. |
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3 & 4 Year Old Program
Licensed and degreed teachers follow the Texas Pre kindergarten
guidelines and use the state adopted “Let’s Begin With
the Letter People” curriculum to plan developmentally appropriate
lessons. Classrooms are set up in centers and students are actively
engaged in hands on learning. |
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Summer Enrichment Camp for School Aged Children
During our six-week summer session we offer
an enrichment program for children ages 5 to 12. Teachers use a
broad theme such as aquatics and then design and plan the learning
activities with the children. Hands on learning and field trips
drive the curriculum.
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Teens |
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AFL Teen Program
The Adolescent Family Life Project (AFL)
provides educational and social service support for pregnant and
parenting students attending Garza, Crockett, Johnston, Reagan,
and Austin CAN Academy High Schools, and Austin Learning Academy’s
Family Literacy program. The Project’s strength is derived
from its many collaborating community partnerships that allow for
a comprehensive approach to service delivery.
The general goal for the Adolescent Family Life (AFL) project is
to support Austin Independent School District and Austin Learning
Academy campuses in achieving success for all students by connecting
school district and community resources directly to students and
families. The AFL program is designed to provide comprehensive school-based
programs designed to support expecting and parenting teens.
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Adult
Literacy |
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ABE and GED Program
Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Educational Development
(GED) classes offer academic and workforce curriculum that prepares
students for employment and community college entrance. Instruction
provides basic math, language, reading, writing, and technology
(computer) skills necessary to become gainfully employed. It also
includes test-taking skills crucial to passing the GED test. ALA
works closely with Austin Community College to ease transition into
higher education and job training. Austin Learning Academy ABE/GED
instructors have over 20 years experience in Adult Education and
provide a relaxed learning environment that combines whole class
activities and individual study plans to ensure students the opportunity
to achieve his or her goals.
Classes are held Mon-Fri from 9am to 2pm. |
| |
ESL Program
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adult learners address
themes and issues meaningful to adults living in the United States.
The instruction is focused on developing critical thinking, cultural
awareness, and building language and life skills.
Classes are held Mon-Fri from 9am to 2pm. |
| |
EL Civics Program
Students new to the U.S. are educated in
their rights and responsibilities of citizenship and are instructed
in civic participation, U.S. history and government, and the "basics"
of citizenship: the 100 citizenship questions, filling out the INS
application. These topics are taught through contextualized instruction
integrating English literacy and language. |
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Parenting |
| |
Parenting is an integrated component
of all ALA programs. Our parenting specialists provides weekly parenting
lessons and literacy activities for all GED and ESL classes. |
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Reading Workshops
Once a month, participants attend a Literacy Reading Workshop that
provides parents with a free book and a literacy activity promoting
interaction between parent and child. |
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"Every Family Loves to Read"
Parents are encouraged to make reading a daily part of their day.
Once a week, parents turn in an illustration or short essay prepared
by their child of that week's favorite book. In return, 3 books per
class are given away, alternating receptions every week. Families
are not only reading, but also building their own family libraries. |
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Family Literacy Events
ALA is a family oriented agency that encourages family events, such
as a Fall and Spring Fest. These fests provide games, crafts and
story times to promote literacy. |
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Home Visits
In collaboration with (Reading Is Fundamental)
RIF, ALA staff provides home visits 5 times a year to all parents
of children 8 and under. During these home visits, parents and children
are led through a literacy activity and all children 5 and under
received a free RIF book. |
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Interactive Literacy Activities (ILA)
Parents and their children participate in
developmentally appropriate literacy based lessons planned by our
experienced early childhood teachers. Activities and skills are
explained and modeled. Teachers support the parents in implementing
the literacy activities in class and encourage them to follow through
at home. |
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Technology |
| |
Technology
is also integrated into the daily curriculum of all ALA programs.
Our technology component has two primary goals: helping low-income
neighborhoods become more technically self-reliant; and increasing
the demand for and use of advanced interactive technologies in those
same neighborhoods. |
