The Academic Youth Development (AYD) initiative helps you ensure that students make a successful transition from middle school to high school mathematics and achieve broad academic success in high school. This program melds the most promising emerging teaching practices in problem-solving and pre-algebra concepts with advances in developmental and social psychology to shape students’ engagement, confidence, and ultimate success as learners. AYD enhances the way students think about themselves as learners, develops their commitment to high achievement, and creates a set of social support skills that sustain responsible and productive engagement in challenging academic work. A central feature of AYD is the formation of a cohort of students who can create a positive learning environment for all students in their Algebra I classes. 

Teachers and students use the AYD online and offline curriculum to build academic confidence and mathematical problem-solving skills. During a 3-week summer experience and ongoing school-year events, students:

• Learn and apply theories from the latest social and cognitive psychology research, including theories of the malleability of intelligence
• Learn and apply strategies for effective effort
• Develop and refine their problem-solving skills
• Gain expertise in key problem-solving strategies they will need for success in Algebra I and science
• Develop effective two-way communication strategies
• Build relationships with other students and with their Algebra I teacher

Visit our new Academic Youth Development website to learn more about this innovative program.