Batey Libertad Learning Center
Learning Center Classes
Yspaniola provides classes in Spanish language literacy to students ages 4 to 15 in Batey Libertad. Our Learning Center serves more than 150 students from the community, and our curriculum helps students in the Batey develop literacy skills not acquired in public school—like phonics and reading strategies—where the quality of instruction is poor and students often complete primary school unable to read at a basic level. Although our primary focus is on Spanish language instruction, Yspaniola also strives to create a healthy environment for child development by fostering skills related to reading comprehension, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem solving. Yspaniola places special emphasis on individualized attention, and we regularly assess the abilities and progress of each of our students. We employ a variety of testing methods to gauge learning outcomes, including:
- Customized and comprehensive preschool evaluations
- Customized phonics evaluations
- The Reading A to Z System, which enables us to track student reading growth over time
Learning Center Library
Each week, Yspaniola hosts open reading hours in the Learning Center library. Students are able to choose from a growing selection of books (we would always like more) that they can read.
The Food Program
In fall 2015, Yspaniola began a Food Program, providing healthy snacks to Learning Center students to support their learning and incentivize class attendance. This was in response to a need in Batey Libertad, where many families struggle to provide their children with adequate nutrition. Students who attend the Learning Center for classes receive snacks such as hardboiled eggs, sandwiches, bananas and water or oatmeal before their classes.