• Hope Leadership Academy
• Hope Youth Ministries
  • Outreach Bible Study
  • Teenage Bible Study
  • Leaders in Training
    • The Seven Developmental Areas
    • Schedule and Activites
• Hope CDC
• Hope Family Care Center

The following is an overview of the activities, classes, and workshops that the kids participate in at LIT.
 
Activities

Snack:  Volunteers provide a daily snack for the LIT kids.  Each snack models a nutritionally balanced meal by including a main dish, a fruit or vegetable, a drink, and a dessert. Eating together not only provides nourishment for the kids, but also provides an opportunity for fun and fellowship as the kids transition from school to LIT.
 
Recreation:  During recreation time the kids are able to participate in a number of different activities.  Outside sports, board games, and creating cheers are some of the most popular activities.
 
Life Skills:  Life skills classes are incorporated into the schedule at least once per month.  The classes focus on teaching topics that the kids are most likely not learning in their homes and schools but will need to know in order to become highly functioning adults.  The classes are followed up with concrete applications of the skills learned. Life Skills classes cover issues such as: sex education, home economics, public speaking, etiquette, career opportunities, resume writing, interview skills, and other pertinent topics.
 
Job Shadows:  We feel that it is important for LIT youth to gain a greater understanding of what jobs are available to them.  This allows them to see different possibilities and determine specific interests that they might have.  By shadowing the job in person, the youth get a hands-on experience.  In addition, the job shadows also allow them to work on relational skills such as introducing themselves to others, how to act in public, how to communicate, etc.  Job shadows take place one time per month. 
 
Classes 

Character Development:  Character is defined as the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life that determines his or her response regardless of circumstances.  Character time is an opportunity to teach kids positive character through several specific traits.  Traits include: honesty, forgiveness, obedience, and many more.  Each trait is explained through a definition, an animal, and a historical figure that represent the trait.  The kids participate in activities designed by the Character First! Curriculum. 
 
Mentoring Bible Study:  LIT girls and guys are divided into separate groups for a weekly bible study.  The study is based on the books Talks my Father Never had with Me and Talks my Mother Never had with Me, published by KJAC Publishing.  The aim of this bible study is to provide an opportunity for youth to discuss topics that may not be addressed at home.  Dealing with gangs, staying away from drugs, and appropriate dating, are examples of topics included.  Questions, scripture, and quotes are added to make this a rich time of discussion.  The Mentoring Bible Study is designed to open up communication for the youth with an adult and to help them mature and live a Christian life. 
 
Leadership:  High school LIT youth develop leadership skills by working with our LIT youth, leading at Outreach Bible Study and providing opportunities to mentor others and be an example for other neighborhood youth.   The youth read and discuss leadership books such as Developing the Leader within You and Developing the Leaders Around You by John C. Maxwell.  This curriculum allows each youth to actively engage in leadership activities using the skills and gifts that they recognize within themselves.  Their leadership skills are then put into practice through making visits in the neighborhood and participating in recreational activities. 
 
Literacy Workshops  

Grammar: The Winston Grammar Program helps students to understand the structure of language and to comprehend the principles of traditional grammar.  It teaches the parts of speech, prepositional phrases, modification, and noun functions.  The grammar workshop also focuses on using grammar orally.  Using creative teaching methods, the leaders work with the kids on using correct grammar in their everyday speech. 
 
Writing: Youth practice their literacy skills through creative writing.  With the assistance of an adult leader, they complete a creative writing assignment that helps them become better writers and teaches them how to use correct grammar. 
 
Spelling: Spelling Power is a multi-sensory, multi-level, individualized spelling program designed to help students master spelling skills.  This workshop time is spent on spelling tests, studying missed words, and on games and activities to help the kids learn the words.  The Spelling Power curriculum is set up to help kids to learn both structural and phonetic word patterns. 

Reading: Silent Reading:  The purpose of this workshop is to give kids a deeper appreciation of reading.  This workshop encourages reading comprehension and fluency.  By reading grade level appropriate books, working through silent reading worksheets, and sharing about what they read, kids increase their reading abilities while becoming more excited about reading.

Literature Circle:   In this workshop kids take turns reading grade level appropriate books out loud.  The kids read the selected book to the group then answer questions together about the book's content.

Guided Reading:   Reading specialists work with youth individually and in small groups to target each kid's areas of difficulty.  They then present strategies to the kids to help them increase their reading abilities.

Scholastic News:   The Scholastic News workshop uses educational and interest reading magazines to help the kids build comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills.  Depending on their reading and grade level, the kids work through Scholastic News, Action, Junior Scholastic, and Scope magazines.  The kids read the articles, answer the questions, discuss the content, and participate in related activities. 

SRA:  SRA is a reading laboratory that provides practice in reading comprehension, word pronunciation, and study skills.  This is an individualized program so each student is able to work at his or her own level. 

Vocabulary: Worldly Wise books teach vocabulary and help kids think about words, how to define them, and the world of things and ideas for which words are referents.  By working through word lists each day in a creative way, the kids have fun while learning new words.

Homework: Kids are able to get extra help with their homework by signing up for a time slot at the beginning of LIT.  Many of the kids receive extra help with their math homework at this time.