Programs → BUS
Building Understanding on Saturdays (BUS)
Extended Day Program Research shows that using background knowledge and personal experiences support reading fluency and comprehension. Studies have also shown that proficient readers make connections to the text by using their background knowledge or prior experiences. Students who have limited background knowledge about topics are more likely to struggle with reading fluency and comprehension. A significant number of students come to school with limited background knowledge. Our goal at NHE is to offer students opportunities to develop background knowledge while demonstrating to parents how to turn a short trip to local area of interest into a learning experience.
NHE's school improvement plan focuses on building oral language fluency. Building Understanding on Saturdays (BUS) will support our school improvement goals by connecting field trips to upcoming curriculum content. The field trip experience will provide kindergarten and first grade students with background knowledge needed to make connections during upcoming reading lessons. Field trips will be held on Saturdays four times during the school year- in December, January, March, and April
The purpose for BUS is to offer opportunities for parents and children to learn reading strategies and skills together while on field trips. More specifically the program's objectives are
to build oral language and vocabulary through a field trip experience
to build background knowledge for students who have limited background knowledge
to demonstrate learning centered activities that parents and children can experience jointly in the Washington, DC metropolitan area
to build a child's home library by providing each child with a book connected to the field trip experience
Dates and Tentative Destinations (2010-2011)
- November 13, 2010 ~ Insect Zoo
- January 29, 2011 ~ College Park Aviation Museum & Airport
- May 7, 2011 ~ National Museum of Natural History