Oak Ridge Youth Development School

Oak Ridge Youth Development School provided a web-enabled math learning program with a visual and highly intuitive interface. The math program helped students understand at a conceptual level. Instead of being overwhelmed by numbers, students moved at their own speed and learned how math works. The program provided math intervention and screening for grades K through 8. Oak Ridge Youth Development School placed scholars in Lexia Reading or Reading Plus based on their accessed level. Lexia Reading helped scholars work independently to develop critical reading skills in a structured, sequential manner through 18 levels. Reading Plus helped scholars develop their silent reading skills in all 3 domains of reading: physical, cognitive and emotional. Both programs are aligned to National and the Common Core State Standards. Oak Ridge Youth Development School placed a strong emphasis on STEAM activities by providing a variety of science experiments to our students in grades K-12 that meets state standards. We also encouraged our scholars to express their learning experiences through the arts.

Oak Ridge Youth Development School provided an entrepreneurial component to our six week Summer Enrichment Program for students in grades 6th to 12th. This program was project-based and interactive. It allowed students to learn and practice skills in developing, designing, and testing new business models and ideas.

Oak Ridge Youth Development School developed an Integrated Health Curriculum to address nutrition, health, and wellness. Oak Ridge Youth Development School partnered with the YMCA to provide differentiated swimming lessons to our students. Participants were taught basic swimming skills such as holding their face underwater, breathing, floating, body coordination, swim strokes and diving. Kids in the Kitchen was provided by the K-State Extension who taught our students about nutritional foods and how to prepare healthy snacks. Students used what they learned to create a Healthy Cantina for our school.