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 Some of our students have special learning needs, such as learning differences, dyslexia or attention deficit disorder. Their needs are addressed by specially trained learning specialists who work with Lower School students in the Berger Learning Center, Middle School students in the Middle School Learning Center and Upper School students in the Andrew Villere Resource Center. These learning specialists help students with the special learning challenges they face and are closely involved both with students and their families as the individual problems are tracked and addressed. They stay in touch with teachers and advisors also and help students with study skills and learning tools such as audio or video support, computer use or extended time. Most importantly, the learning specialist helps students learn to believe in themselves and their unique abilities, so they can really succeed.
Through the OYES (Own Your Education Success) program students become comfortable with articulating their own learning strengths and special learning needs, which will be crucial when they reach college. All colleges and universities now have academic resource programs for students with special needs, but at that level, students need to be advocates and spokesmen for themselves.
The goal for the students who are part of the Lower School Learning Center is that they receive support within their least restrictive environment. In order to achieve this goal, the learning specialists work with small groups of students through a pull-out program. The program is primarily designed to provide support services to students with learning disabilities, attention issues, or academic deficits. In addition to providing direct support to students, the specialists work with teachers in the classroom, as well as parents and outside professionals. The Learning Center specialists develop necessary accommodations in procedures so that students can be successful within the regular curriculum.
The goal of this program is to help students become independent learners. Reading, writing, and study skills are taught in the context of the students' regular academic courses. Students are pulled from their PE classes to receive additional instruction in comprehension, vocabulary development, critical thinking, and spelling. Students are assigned to ARL by the Middle School learning specialist in consultation with the Middle School principal. Each student must have a diagnosed learning disability.
The goal of this program is to help students solidify skills in any academic area before going on to the Upper School. Students, who have usually been part of the Lab in 6th or 7th grade grades, are admitted in 8th grade. However, a new student can be admitted to the program if a child is found to be with a learning problem.
In the short term, student experiencing academic difficulties may receive tutoring in a specific course, be aligned with a peer or professional tutor, or be recommended for a professional educational/psychological evaluation. The main thrust of the program is to provide those students who have learning disabilities with an understanding of their particular learning styles and to provide them with the accommodations and study skills they need to achieve academic success. Learning Specialists consult with teachers and parents on an on-going basis to monitor student progress.
The sessions are individually scheduled and monitored by the Upper School Learning Specialists and primarily accommodate students who desire to master a compensatory learning style. At the junior and senior levels, ARL also provides support services for accommodations on SATs and ACTs. The specialists work with the advisors, teachers, and counselors associated with the students in the program to provide a smooth transition to college.
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