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East Nashville Hope Exchange's Program
East Nashville Hope Exchange (ENHE) is a summer program for low-income children from rising first to third grades. Our program assists children in developing and improving reading proficiency while encouraging leadership skills and self-esteem.
Hope Exchange offers intensive reading enrichment and community building through an integrated, thematic curriculum. Our small student/teacher ratio of 6:1 enables children to receive the guidance needed to prevent summer learning loss, prepare for the upcoming grade and increase reading levels. Results
Recognized reading tests are administered both before and after the program. They have shown that almost all (about 90%) of the children improve their reading skills. Testing covers phonics, reading comprehension, sight words and fluency.
Harambee
Harambee means “pulling together for a common purpose.” Each day begins with our version of Harambee – a morning celebration that includes singing, dancing and light exercise.
Guest Readers
We invite members of our community to visit and be one of our daily guest readers. These positive role models provide encouragement to the children with stories that show their passion for reading and how literacy is foundational to their life and vocation.
Reading Activities
Our teachers implement a balanced literacy program that incorporates writing and all five essential elements of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
Afternoon Activities
Various afternoon activities are provided throughout the program, such as arts and crafts, music and cooking, allowing children to socialize in a less structured setting.
Field Trips
A variety of field trips are scheduled throughout the program offering cultural enrichment and fun. These include visiting places such as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Nashville Zoo and the Adventure Science Center.
Books for Children
Each week a new picture book is brought to life for students in the classroom and then sent home with them to build their home library. Additional books are provided at the end of the summer, helping to ensure that gains continue after the program.
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Above: Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, a regular guest reader, with the Nashville Public Library’s Puppet Truck Show.
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Parent Empowerment Sessions
Designed for family members, these sessions provide tools to make reading a year-long priority and ensure the child’s success in school. Sessions include such topics as child nutrition, navigating the school system, and bullying awareness and prevention.
Tuition and Meals
East Nashville Hope Exchange has a low tuition fee of $30 per family, and scholarships are available. Nashville’s Summer Food Service Program allows us to provide nutritionally balanced breakfasts and lunches daily, plus we provide donated snacks.
Location
Operating out of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Hope Exchange is located in the heart of East Nashville, a diverse, thriving neighborhood with a large number of low-income residents.
