The PS 48 South Bronx Intensive English Sessions After School Program, aka South Bronx Gardeners Program*, focuses on accelerating the English language acquisition for English Language Learners (ELLs) and at risk immigrant students who may have a home language of English as well. The program centers on developing content knowledge aligned to the New York City Dept. of Education (NYCDOE) social studies scope and sequence and science scope and sequence. This will provide the academic vocabulary and literacy skills to be successful for grade level demands, whether in tasks or formative assessments in literacy, in particular for the NYSESLAT assessment. The program is a successful model for ENL learning. Assessment data collected at the beginning, middle and end of the program demonstrates that each year students in the program make English acquisition and academic content learning gains.

The students of P.S. 48 develop gardening and farming techniques alongside developing English literacy skills while interacting with the local community. The Spring program for English Language Learners (ELLs) officially began in Spring 2011. It continues to this day. Along the way, students have developed plant guides to the various plants that live in the garden, as well as hosted tours of the garden, and developed movies and tutorials to pass on their expertise to future gardeners. They have even participated in archaeological investigations. Because every child should know how to grow food- and wonder about the natural world!

Program Media

Take a trip down memory lane.  View the PS 48 South Bronx Intensive English Sessions After School Program, aka South Bronx Gardeners Program videos and photos.  One program; two names.  Who do you remember?  What are they up to today?

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