Why is PDC affordable?
PDC offers small student enrollment for real one-on-one assistance and attention. Small student enrollment requires fewer teachers. PDC teachers are able to be more focused on individual students.Daily Academics @PDC
PDC curriculum and day-to-day lesson plans align with the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) standards. PDC employs the learner-centered curriculum design when developing curriculum & lessons. Lessons revolve around student needs, interests, and goals. Students receive one-on-one and group lessons. Student-Teacher ratio is 3:1. To learn more about PDC teachers, click here.Each student takes grade placement tests. Student education plans are written and parent interviews are required to discuss the plans. Progress reports are sent out at the end of the first semester. End-of-year reports and grades are emailed to parents at the end of the school year.
Preparing for Life After Grade School
Through PDC's Vocation & Independent Life (VIL) program, students engage in work readiness and independent living skills activities. Each year PDC students take a career assessment, practice filling out job applications, engage in brief speech activities, and are asked to think about life as an independent person. Independent skills activities include Money & Consumer Math, phone interactions, how to change a light bulb, hammer a nail, how to shop for groceries, gardening, healthy eating, checking tire pressure, etc.
Office skills & activities such as typing, data entry, and Google applications (G Suite) are also a part of PDC's Vocation & Independent Life (VIL) program.
Computer Science & Robotics
Students enrolled in PDC's academic program engage in computer science & robotics activities and projects. PDC's growing technology program includes Google's Computer Science education platform, a MakerSpace, 3D printer training, and the Mindstorms EV3 robotics education curriculum. Students learn the basics of computer science, develop their own video games, create 3D designs, and build customized robots.
Volunteer Opportunities & Field Trips
Students enrolled in PDC's academic program volunteer at non-profit organizations and businesses in the Houston Metro area. During the 2019-2020 school year, students will volunteer at a resale shop, a kitten rescue, horse ranch, and a grocery store. These opportunities expose students to workplace settings and responsibilities.Students also enjoy school field trips at least twice a month. During the 2019-2020 school year, students are going hiking, fishing, horse riding, on mock job interviews, to two museums, the Hobby Center, and other places.
Art & Nature Education
PDC students are introduced and exposed to seven elements of art, drawing, painting on canvas, mixed media projects, and holiday-focused art. At PDC, we believe some of the best learning and awareness of self & others occurs in nature. The nature education program includes lessons on insects, animals, life cycles, plant life, the environment around us, camping skills, and how to stay safe outdoors.
Fitness & Well-Being
Every morning, during Calm & Concentration, students & staff gather in the recreation room on exercise mats and are led into 10-minutes of breathing exercises followed by 10-minutes of Yoga. After lunch, daily, students & staff participate in Yoga, REFIT®, or other physical activities. These exercises & activities help to reduce anxiety, increase attention & concentration, and they assist in bringing minds to a calmer emotional state.Social & Emotional Awareness
At PDC, students engage in numerous group activities that challenge them to recognize their strengths & weaknesses, understand the importance of social interactions & expectations, and they are provided many opportunities to practice emotion regulation.Transition Classes
PDC offers transition classes that focus on preparing students for the workplace, college, and independent living. These classes are open to students not currently enrolled in PDC's 2019-2020 academic program. All students with and without learning disabilities may enroll in the transition classes. Click here for more information.
Afterschool Program
PDC's afterschool Computer Science & Robotics Club meets every Friday. Click here for more information.
Summer Programs
During the Summer months, PDC offers 3-day Computer Science, Robotics, Money Math, and workplace readiness workshops.Camp Paradigm is PDC's Summer camp. The theme the past two years has been STEAM + Nature Education. During PDC's 2019 STEAM + Nature Summer camp, campers 10-19 years old engaged in group activities focused on awareness of self & others, Technology + Art activities, Lego robotics, recreational activities such as yoga, REFIT®, outdoor activities, games, STEM challenges, and nature-related activities. In addition to these activities, campers also engaged in independent living activities such as automated phone service interactions.
www.paradigmdevelopmentcenter.com
(281) 755-6631
houstonpdc@gmail.com
