Lets take a walking tour of the classroom
. As you enter
through the front door, your eye
focuses on a beautiful life like tree whose branches appear as if to reach
toward the sky. In fact as you move into the room, there above the
tips of the branches is a recessed ceiling with a very life like serene
sky painted on the tiles. It's leaves may be forever green, but the
patients and tutorial staff decorate it's branches for each season.
Beneath this mature conifer, you are apt to find patients, parents and
staff enjoying a good book while lounging on over sized floor
pillows. Reading is truly an essential part of hospital life.
Computers
As our tour continues, you will find that technology adorns the
perimeter of the schoolroom. Four IBM compatible computers flank the walls
of the classroom, while one computer is designed to be mobile and
transported to your child's room for use at bedside. Two of the four computers
including our mobile computer are Omni Tech PCs purchased from monies
donated for the express purpose of providing the children and adolescent
patients with the latest in technology. These computers bring with
them 20 gig hard drives, 512 mg of ram installed, 1 gig processors, cd
burners and 15" Hitachi flat screen monitors. Both computers
are networked to both a Hewlett Packard Office Jet color
printer/scanner/copier and a Hewlett Packard
Color DeskJet 820Cse printer. These computers are
utilized within the classroom for typing reports, making banners for your room, e-mailing
family and friends and even your schools. Internet access is available under direct supervision by
program staff members. There are no charges for your child to use the
computers or to e-mail friends, family or school chums. While your child is hospitalized, you will have access to the classroom e-mail
address to give to family, friends and school personnel. The computers are also used
as tools for
teaching academics such as typing, Algebra and even Chemistry through the use of programs
like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and Math For Middle and High School. (Click here to see a list of CD-ROM programs available for use in the
classroom.) Your child will be thrilled to receive mail as we
are sure you will enjoy hearing from them while at home or at work. The Reading, Writing
& Recovery Program staff will print and deliver your mail to the classroom Post
Office. The Post Office is located in room 4320 which also serves as the classroom. To
receive your mail, you check the Post Office for your child’s corresponding room and
bed number. We suggest that you check this Monday through Friday for important program
information and e-mail.
Behind the Omni Tech computers are another set of
equally great computers
for you to use. Thanks to Starbright World, a major initiative of
Starbright Foundation ( chaired by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg),
you are able to utilize a private, online computer that will connect you
to children and adolescents in over 90 major Children's hospitals
throughout the United States and one children's hospital in Canada. As you
can see our classroom has two of five Dell computers each with a ProShare
video conferencing system, a T-one line hookup through Sprint, which
connects the hospital to the Starbright World network. Sprint and
Intel are Starbright Foundation corporate sponsers.
Worksheet Files
As our tour continues, parents of children in Kindergarten through sixth grade are
strongly encouraged to utilize our "user friendly" worksheet files.
This file is designed
with curriculum your child should be covering at specific grade levels. It
is a self service cabinet, or if you would like, the staff will select
worksheets appropriate for your child's educational ability. Next to
this file you will find a myriad of enrichment activities ranging from flash cards to educational
games all for you to use or our staff to use with your child in conjunction with their
academics.
Library
A multi-cultural lending library filled with donated books is available for your
child during classroom hours. Our
library though small contains material for all ages. Board books for
infants, picture books through abridged
classics to those ever popular Arthur and Goosebumps books to mention a few, compose our
Library. Sit with your child in our reading area complete with a
comfy couch or large over sized floor pillows and enjoy a good
book.
Fine Arts
You say you want more in the line of the Fine Arts? Seasonal art activities are
available for your child to create. We do encourage your child to make two decorations one
to take to his
or her room and the other to dress up our classroom. Not only does your
child help make the classroom beautiful but it fosters a positive self image. They see
their work hanging from the ceiling or their artistic talents adorning the
windows and branches of the classroom tree. Yes we
also allow your child to help paint the classroom windows. We use school tempera paints
and write-on wipe-off markers to create works of art that even Picasso would admire.
Piano
The classroom has a Casio CTK-630 electronic keyboard. It’s cabled into the
Omni Tech computers ready for you to use the Piano Discovery System. This
system teaches your child how to play the piano while completing lessons on the computer.
Stereo
And last but not least, The Reading, Writing & Recovery School Program has
it’s own Stereo system with surround sound. If your child wants to bring their
favorite CD’s or cassettes to listen to while in the classroom or even listen to
their favorite radio station, voila they can use the stereo.
TV and VCR
The classroom is also equipped with a portable TV. The TV is mainly used for Hospital Bingo which is played by all the
patients on Wednesday and Fridays. Schoolwork is put on hold for one hour, computers are
left alone and children concentrate solely on their Bingo cards hoping for a winner. We
also utilize the TV for current events. There is a VCR connected to the TV for educational
videos Like The Magic School Bus and National Geographic videos.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards adorn almost every square inch of
the classroom walls. These boards remind the children and adolescents of special facts,
rules and general information. Holidays are observed the same as they would be in your
child’s school. For example our staff will put on costumes for Halloween and we will
escort your child around the hospital on a trick or treating excursion. We have many
visitors and events during the Christmas and Easter holidays. If we know ahead of time we
can help celebrate your child’s birthday if hospitalized on their special day.
Our program is available year round with Summer specializing more on educational
enrichment activities.
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