1999 Balere, Inc. is established in Miami, FL as a necessity for early foreign language education & to to give other children the opportunity to learn about other languages and cultures.
2001
Hosted a Language Fair, which offered competitions in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese; representing various consulates in Miami and local international vendors.
In September, Balere offers six-week cultural workshops to the community and boast full immersion language lessons as well.
2002
Balere opened its doors to Saturday School with full immersion in French and Spanish within the Urban community of Coconut Grove, FL..
2004
Balere Language Academy Charter School opens in 2 languages to over 100 students in KG thru 2nd Grade. Located in Cutler Ridge.
Now in its Fifth year of operation, in 2008, and with a 3rd Language, the Balere Language Academy Charter School, continues to linguistically challenge children in South Florida in grades KG thru 6.
:: CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS
Balere Language Academy Charter School promotes techniques that will yield improved academic results, self -development and create a learning place where all students are challenged to discover, use, and increase their personal power. Teaching techniques and Curriculum will be broadly based on the CBC and will be aligned with National Principles and Sunshine State Standards.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The Language Arts program at Balere Language Academy will reflect critical and creative thinking and a harmonious balance of its several components, including reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing, with FCAT strands integrated at every level. The program will emphasize literature as its main component. Writing will also be stressed throughout the curriculum through projects such as daily journal entries on a desktop publishing program with math journals. The use of technology within the writing process will further enhance the program, as students publish their work. Open Court Reading 2002 [KG and 1st Grade only] ensures that every child receives the best reading instruction available. This structured program teaches children through a systematic and explicit scaffolding of skills that build upon each other. By taking into account the individual needs of students and providing them with practice and engaging reading materials. Students in grades 2 and up use McGraw Hill's curriculum.
MATHEMATICS The underlying philosophy of Saxon mathematics is incremental development with continual practice and review. Concepts are divided into small pieces that are easily understood and are introduced in separate lessons. Each major concept is developed completely, not in one lesson but over time. These skills that we take our time to develop early in the educational path will become the foundation upon which expanded learning occurs. Grades 1 through 4 use McGraw Hill which provides students with acccurate, effective, and research-based content that integrates reading and writing skills.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The curriculum develops the understandings that history and science are about real people in real places. The history of sciences, math and technology as well as peoples and cultures will be taught through integrated units of study. Research and presentations will play a large part in this curriculum. Students will experience the benefits and disadvantages of democratic societies worldwide. Social Science education will prepare students to participate intelligently in public affairs and foster in students the knowledge and skills needed to understand current political and social issues, locally, nationally, and worldwide. Social Studies education at Balere Language Academy will promote loyalty and love of community. Social Studies education will provide students with an understanding of the democratic principles and ideals upon which good citizenship is founded and an understanding of the world beyond their borders.
SCIENCE
The science curriculum will be based on the CBC and will be aligned with the Florida Sunshine Standards as well as the National Science Education Standards. It emphasizes scientific thinking, problem-solving, and functional knowledge of scientific phenomena while inspiring a sense of wonder and excitement for the world around us. Experiences with hands-on experiments, field trips, career scientists and applied learning are basic approaches in the multi-sensory instruction. Environmental education will be emphasized.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
The curriculum is designed to provide an atmosphere that encourages a healthy lifestyle as well as the enjoyment of physical activity. Children will be introduced to physical activities from around the world, including, but not limited to: Yoga, karate, soccer and shadow boxing. The program emphasizes individual choices regarding nutrition, exercise, and habits of healthy and decision-making Environmental education will be integrated into these topics as health concerns. Health will be integrated into all subjects and Balere Language Academy will be designated a “Drug Free School Zone” and a smoke-free work place.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
The curriculum emphasizes personal, social and civic responsibility. Opportunities to apply knowledge and skills in authentic, problem-solving settings will be provided. Areas of service will be determined collaboratively between students and teachers early in the year and integrated into units of study. Younger students will participate in community service projects within the school environment while older students will have projects in the community at large.
PORTFOLIOS
BLA students participate in our portfolio program. Early in the year, a three-way conference will be held including the parents, student and teacher. The purpose is to review assessments, identify students interests and needs and set learning goals for the year. Two follow-up conferences will be held over the duration of the year to monitor progress. Students will meet with parents to share the progress that they have made. At the conference, students will share their portfolio of work which documents what they have accomplished thus far in the school year, reflects on their learning and goals for the future. In the last conference of the year, participants will not only consider the student's level of mastery, quality of demonstration, and social development, but will also review the general appropriateness of the advancement to the next grade level. General months for portfolio conferences are September, January and May.
TECHNOLOGY BLA has interntet access in EVERY classroom. Students are exposed to disk management and network systems (i.e., Internet, e-mail), in addition to regular and laser printers. We also have computers with CD-ROM drives which enable students and teachers to access data for specific learning projects. Teachers utilize the computers as an extension of the classroom. If a computer program is going to be used to teach or practice a skill (i.e., long division, beginning letters, or report writing), the teacher has the students work in groups on computer lab, teach the lesson and then have the students practice the skill using appropriately leveled computer programs. In this way students are continuously learning while having fun using computers.
SUMMER READING
The Summer Reading Program is designed to give students a variety of genres and authors in which to acquaint themselves in an effort to spark a love of reading. The Kindergarteners through Second Grade have been given a Summer Counts as well book to complete over the summer break. They are to hand it in to their new teacher on the First day of School. Third and Fourth Graders are to read the required book in addition to 3 from the list of choices. They will have a project due on the required book within the first few weeks of the new school year.
