Walking the Dream Path

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Dreaming Out Loud’s character education initiative operates from the principle which states that “it is much easier to ethically build a child than to repair a broken one.” We help to construct the moral framework that guides each child’s development as they navigate life.

It is imperative that our core values be incorporated in the superstructure of the schools where we operate, which in turn supports the learner. Walking the Dream Path seeks transformation in school culture and climate, making parents, teachers and administrators an integral part of our activities. Our inclusive learning community also incorporates the surrounding community, embraces multi-cultural experiences, and encourages a life-long exploration of learning and growth.

Continual reinforcement is another key element in creating multifaceted dimensions of student growth. We accomplish this by providing avenues for constructive feedback and active listening; encouraging critical thinking, problem solving and ethical decision-making; and also providing opportunities for students to reflect through essays, journal writings, and group discussions.

Most uniquely, we physically reinforce these core values in action-oriented projects which also extend the classroom to the greater community. This curriculum is designed to reinforce the, connecting constructive activities to greater life lessons. The use of various worksheets, puzzles, stories, and vocabulary building exercises will challenge students to think critically, as well as sharpen academic skills as prescribed by District of Columbia Public School Standards. The program components featured are as follows:

• The Monarch Sister Schools Program (MSSP) is an initiative to involve school children across North America in the protection and restoration of the habitat of the Monarch butterfly, including its threatened winter forest habitat in the highlands of central Mexico and its disappearing milkweed habitat along its migratory "flyway" from Mexico to Canada. This outdoor learning program features planting a butterfly garden that attracts these beautiful creatures for study as they traverse the continent from the USA to Mexico.
• Anacostia to Accra In this exchange, two groups of students, one from Ghana and another from the District of Columbia, are able to connect and communicate through physically mailing gifts and via the marvels of technology. The objective is to explore how location shapes the cultural similarities and differences that shape their identities through communication. They will also be able to explore the meaning of Walking the Dream Path’s Adinkra core values, helping convey the values and context which shapes their world.
• Eco-Field Trips allow our students to explore Washington, DC’s – particularly Ward 7 & 8 – beautiful natural gifts. Kingman Island, one of Ward 7’s great environmental resources is not only educational, but great fun. This experience extends beyond the regular classroom period to truly open up the children’s natural curiosity and create a “school without walls.”
• Art Projects – creative projects that include: photography collages of the surrounding community; play readings; journal keeping to record personal progress; and painting/drawing/graphic design.
• Academic Reinforcement – the use of dictionaries/encyclopedias to reference unknown words, concepts, or events; keeping of journals to record new vocabulary words; the incorporation of classroom lessons/current events as related to character.
• Community Involvement: Family Focus Group - Recognizing that family is the foundation of achievement and the construction of great character, we use family focus groups and parent cafés to gather information and build trust. Parent cafés are very informal gatherings that feature music, food, and conversation about the school’s direction and parent involvement.