ElHogar

 

 

El Hogar De La Paz
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About El Hogar
El Hogar is an alternative education program that differs from other kinds of alternative education primarily in method of student placement and program purpose. Attendance is compulsory for a prescribed period of time. The purpose of our program is to provide temporary student placement for academic advancement and behavior management. The goal is for students to return to, and succeed in, their regularly assigned home schools.

Our Goal:
While the short-term goal of alternative education is to meet the needs of some students, the long-term goal of El Hogar is to identify successful alternative education strategies and use these strategies as a basis for improving the learning opportunities for students to return to their home schools and graduate.



Educational Focus Points:
  • Have high educational expectations for all students.
  • Use instructional technology effectively, with a balance of computer- assisted and teacher-directed instruction.

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    Develop individualized instructional plans and assessments using information from MAP scores and AIMS test.
  • Use varied instructional approaches that can accommodate different learning styles, including teacher-directed, self-paced, hands-on, and group-based instruction.
  • Include opportunities for students to practice new concepts immediately after the concepts are taught.
  • Help students find value in education, feel comfortable with the educational system, build confidence in personal academic abilities, and take pride in accomplishments.
  • Contact parents when students show promise or do outstanding work to encourage positive conversation about education between parents and children.
  • Send written progress reports to parents and to teachers in the home schools.
  • Ensure students do class work by creating a clear set of rewards and consequences for performance beyond grades.

Curriculum and instruction:
Curriculum is focused on providing students functional academic and social skills. Instruction is individualized, challenging, and appealing. A major goal of curriculum and instruction at El Hogar is to provide students with successful experiences that improve behavior, self-esteem, and attitudes. Lesson plans are developed c

 

ollaboratively by teachers and staff at El Hogar. Lesson plans have a clear mission; create efficient, structured environments focused on student success; and base instructional plans on the results of student assessment. Lessons help students build the capacity to meet expectations by using a variety of instructional strategies that respond to individual student needs (e.g., hands-on-learning).

Teachers and staff:
Teachers and staff are skilled and take responsibility for student success. They work collaboratively with each other to maximize each student's achievement and success. Teachers and staff are caring, dedicated, and optimistic. They believe in educating the "whole child," taking on multiple roles in addition to teacher, including mentor, nurturer, and counselor.

Teachers and staff training:
Teachers and staff are trained in Creating Independence Through Student-Owned Strategies (CRISS) Training and Conflict Resolution Training. They have learned how to work with students from diverse backgrounds.

Discipline, behavior management, and school safety:

 

The disciplinary system is based on a clear, strict, and fair discipline code that serves to develop student coping skills, self-control, and problem-solving abilities called Children Having Opportunities in Choosing Education Success (CHOICES). The system includes positive and negative consequences for student behavior. El Hogar ensures coherence between district discipline policies and practices. The CHOICES system of reduced privileges and rewards, often tracked on point sheets and progress charts, reinforces strict rules and behavior management plans. Incentives are offered to encourage student behavioral progress. A caring environment with committed, respectful teachers and staff who help students make behavioral progress is fostered here at El Hogar. The safety and security of El Hogar students are important and using practices ranging from consistent enforcement of rules to use of technology and procedures, student uniform policy, constant student supervision, and police officer presence when needed fosters a safe learning environment.

Transitional component:
A process and procedure are in place to facilitate student transition back to their assigned home school.

Parent involvement:

El Hogar promotes parent involvement in their students' education and encourages parents to volunteer at the school.

 

 

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