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Academic Support Every Step of the Way

We recognize that learners develop skills in different ways and at different paces. Our Learning Support Program is an academic resource for students, parents, and teachers. We take a collaborative team approach to support the growth and development of every student. Our dedicated teachers, families, and staff work together to meet each child where they are, building on their strengths and helping them overcome challenges. We understand that every student is unique, and we provide the resources to empower students to become advocates for themselves, develop self-awareness, and recognize the strategies that help them thrive as learners.

Our program encompasses students of all grades, from Pre-K through 12th grade, regardless of whether they have a diagnosed learning difference. Our program creates a comfortable environment that seamlessly supports classroom learning and builds confidence in each student.

Through collaboration with teachers, parents, learning specialists, counselors, principals, and outside counselors, we ensure each student receives the attention they need to succeed. We also host parent education events to foster a deeper understanding of our approach and provide families with valuable resources.

Academic Support in Lower School

Lower School Learning Specialists help students strengthen their academic achievement. Our youngest students develop self-awareness and build meaningful relationships while embracing academic content and challenging themselves to work to their fullest potential. We strive for them to achieve self-confidence in their learning with appropriate support and guidance. 

Pre-K

The learning specialist is in each classroom weekly to support all Pre-K students, allowing an opportunity to reinforce the phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills taught in the classroom.

PreK students also meet with the learning specialist in small groups and engage in activities that promote rhyming, syllables, letter names and sounds, blending, segmenting, and more. Having the opportunity for the learning specialist to work with every Pre-K student allows for a smooth transition to Kindergarten. 

K-5th Grade

Learning specialists continue to have a strong presence in lower school classrooms and monthly faculty meetings to best support students with reading, writing, math, and their daily checklists as needed. The learning specialists administer a reading assessment to all students (K-4th) to determine if they are meeting grade level expectations or if they would benefit from Bonus Groups, which provide additional reading support to selected students. These small groups typically meet twice per rotation for 30 minutes to explicitly reinforce the foundational reading skills for students to become academically successful and confident readers.

For students who present with difficulty in the classroom, we provide in-house screenings to determine if additional support is needed, such as an outside specialist, tutor, or evaluation, while supporting families throughout this process.

Academic Support in Middle School

The learning specialist collaborates with students to enhance their study and organizational skills. The first week of school focuses on time navigation, planning, organization, and utilizing laptop and planner tools. Classroom visits are utilized to introduce diverse study techniques and time management methods. Additionally, the learning specialist ensures that students who require approved accommodations have access to them and supports teachers in implementing best practices within the classroom. 

Academic Support in Upper School

Our learning specialist supports students in their transition to Upper School and helps them enhance their study, organization, and executive function skills, empowering them to become independent learners and advocates for themselves. Continuous communication between the learning specialist, teachers, parents, and students ensures students are well-prepared for major assessments and exams. They work together to develop appropriate and efficient study strategies, which are shared with parents. The learning specialist communicates these accommodations to teachers for students with approved accommodations and creates a personalized learning proļ¬le that identifies strengths, challenges, and best-practice strategies tailored to each student’s unique needs. 

They also serve as the School’s ACT and College Board (PSAT, SAT, and AP) accommodations coordinator. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Academic Support Programs