OptiKodes Learning Gym

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME!

As most of you know, during the past 18 years, hundreds of young children and their families have had significant breakthroughs in understanding their unique learning styles and applying this to school work, home work, projects and tests – and succeeding! During this time, I have been slowly and methodically perfecting the  OptiKode Learning Styles program.  It has been thrilling to help so many children move from 'being left behind' to excelling because they have discovered how they learn best.  Many of my original students are now success stories in colleges throughout the US, achieving their dreams with their knowledge of how THEY learn.  It’s truly been an exciting, 18-year journey with these  amazing children and their families. 

But, it's far from over! The time has come for the next phase of OptiKode Learning Styles.  My long-standing dream has been to develop an after-school learning gym where I can reach larger numbers of nontraditional students and provide them with the opportunity to become their own success story.  To develop and offer them an exciting place where they can learn how to be active,  and empowered learners! 

Most nontraditional learners are athletic, 'moving-types' who need to use their bodies and channel their kinetic energy into learning.  This kind of active learning helps focus and regulate them and brings out their natural  learning abilities. Students who are  also dominant in some of the other nontraditional learning pathways need additional tools and strategies to thrive! The bottom line is nontraditional learners simply do not thrive with the  'sit, look, and listen' approach.  What these kids truly need and deserve is an exciting, gym-style learning environment which is set up to meet them on their playing field and to make learning fun and rewarding.  I know this approach works because I have been using it successfully for almost 20 years!

The good news is that creating the OptiKodes Learning Gym  is within reach. I recently discovered a 1,800 square foot space that is ideal for the center.  It is located centrally in Walnut Creek, just 2 blocks from where I now work. Nearly half the space is one large room, while the rest is divided into separate rooms for individual and smaller group work as well as active breaks.  The site layout is an exact match for my overall program design:

·    One large space for up to 10 kids doing dynamic homework cycles together
·    Smaller rooms for reading, writing and individual learning support
·    Activity rooms for a rock climbing wall and other physical activities 

My brother, a seasoned art designer and art director based in New York City, will help create  a space kids will love to be in.  He started his career designing theme parks around the world and his imagination and creativity will create something very special. But in order to make this dream which will benefit so many a reality, I need your support!  The monthly overhead is $3,500 and the budget to customize the space  is $15,000.  I will also need to upgrade my existing web site at a cost of $4,000.


  FUNDS NEEDED
  Overhead (6 months)      $21,000;
  Site changes                          $15,000  - includes upgrading lighting 
  Web site upgrades            $   4,000
  TOTAL                                      $40,000

The OptiKodes Learning Gym is based around  two primary models of use:

1. MEMBERSHIPS - Families purchase monthly or annual memberships that allow their kids to attend multiple times per week for a variety of learning support.   Each 90-minute visit will consist of three, 20-minute learning intervals  and a 30 minute 'fun spree' at the end.  Focus areas will include:
·   active and engaging homework cycles
·    multi-sensory skill building in reading, comprehension, spelling, writing, and math
·   executive functioning skills,  social/emotional intelligence and invaluable teamwork skills
·   One-on-one academic support; 50-minute sessions 

2. DROP-IN and Individual Support. Families, teachers and other professionals may  drop-in  as desired for the following services:

·   60-minute learning intervals and fun sprees
·   parent trainings
·   teacher and specialist trainings
·   guest speakers and support groups
·  Learning Style Assessments  and Recommendations to share with teachers at school


The core objective  at the OptiKodes Learning Gym will be to help kids discover how they learn best and empower them to also use the same methods at home and at school.  As kids master their unique OptiKode Learning Styles, parents will simultaneously learn how to support them at home in the same way, reducing homework stress for everyone.  My overarching  goal is for nontraditional learners to feel they are natural born learners at the OptiKodes Learning Gym.   This will be THEIR world, where they can learn the way they are truly designed to learn and be in the company of other nontraditional learners  who ordinarily feel left out in school classrooms. Being empowered and having fun while they learn will quickly help them  develop inner confidence and motivation.  This in turn will turbo charge their learning abilities and position them for growing success. 

Why Now?  What is driving my passion to establish the OptiKodes Learning Gym now?  Over the years, I have developed the OptiKode system into a complete and effective program that works wonders.  And now when my life work is complete I realize that I am entering the final phase of my career and unless I act, the OptiKodes system will likely disappear when I finish working.  By starting the OptiKodes Learning Gym, I can pass on OptiKodes to future generations  and begin training people to carry on this exciting work.  An additional hope of mine is that the Walnut Creek Learning Gym will be the first of many future centers.

YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT With your support you will be part of a movement that honors the needs of nontraditional learners and brings out an understanding of who they are and what techniques they individually need to reach their full potential.  For too long, bright, nontraditional learners have remained on the sidelines without the right support and have been unintentionally left behind in droves.  This is a passion of mine, and the success we have all had together only tells me that this next project IS POSSIBLE and very much needed.

If you currently have a child in practice with me, they will be part of the first generation of kids to benefit from this new paradigm in learning. If you brought your child to me in the past,  you know the power of OptiKodes firsthand and how it changes lives - your financial help will help other great kids reach their full potential. If you are simply a visionary thinker who believes in educational reform, you can become a priceless benefactor to an important project the world needs more than ever!  

Will you join me in changing the way children love to learn?  Your financial assistance will create miracles and change the lives of many for years to come. Thank you in advance for helping the OptiKodes Learning Gym get off the ground!


Gratefully,

Kimberley Lemyre Blackburn, MA
Founder of OptiKodes Academy &
OptiKodes Learning Gym
optikodes.com