Chords for Progression
Chords for Progression, 2017. After school program, 3 days per week, 3 hours per day, 27 weeks in total.
Chords for Progression provides a unique way for newcomer refugee/asylum-seeking high school youth with a history of interrupted schooling to “catch-up.” In Oakland Unified School District, there has been a 122% increase in the number of newcomers over the past two years. At Castlemont High School, at least 50% of the 250 newcomers are Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education, coming from countries where poverty, disaster, civil unrest, and/or persecution have affected their development of literacy and opportunities for education. Many are fleeing violence and human trafficking. Chords for Progression will be approaching their intensive academic and socio-emotional needs through an after-school program that merges math with musicianship and dance, while also facilitating English language learning. The music program utilizes the Orff-Schulwerk Method composed of barred instruments and percussion; the math program follows K-6 Common Core Standards. Program features include: geometry via dance and the visual arts; algebra via acting; fractions and graphing via hip-hop. Students will be thinking, doing, touching, creating, playing in math and music. This program is anticipated to amplify academic and language capability, self-esteem, confidence, and also promote emotional healing; higher attendance rates, less tardiness, better grades and an overall more successful schooling experience is expected.