Learning Support

List of 4 items.

• Learning Support in Lower School

  In the Lower School, Learning Specialists utilize grade-level progress, teacher and parent referrals, as well as test results to identify students who require additional assistance in developing pre-reading/reading, writing, and math skills. Assessments to inform progress include: CTOPP (Comprehensive Test of Phonological  Processing) in kindergarten; IMSE reading benchmarks, spelling inventories, and math assessments in grades 1-4; and MAP Growth standardized assessments in grades 3 and 4. Learning Specialists utilize an Orton-Gillingham approach to teach reading, spelling, and writing. Explicit, multisensory teaching is designed to promote learning and enhance memory.  Currently, students who benefit from additional support meet with a Learning Specialist twice per week for targeted instruction.

• Learning Support in Middle School

  In the Middle School, Learning Specialists employ an executive functioning coaching model to help students transition to discipline-based content and skills. Whereas there is minor remediation of basic skills in grades 5 and 6, in grades 7 and 8 Learning Support time is used to organize materials and homework, study for quizzes and tests, and receive assistance completing specific assignments. Middle School students may be scheduled in Learning Support in place of taking a foreign language or during a study hall. Middle School students are required to have current psychoeducational testing on file to receive services, so parents are advised to have the necessary documentation.

• Learning Support in Upper School

  Upper School Learning Specialists continue to utilize an executive functioning coaching model to help students visualize goals and develop as independent learners.  Learning Specialists follow a step-down service model to assist students in developing self-advocacy skills and readiness attributes required for a successful transition to college. 

  
  

  Students are scheduled into Learning Support during one of their two study hall periods. During this time, students receive academic and organizational support, executive functioning coaching on identified goals, as well as proctored accommodations for tests and quizzes as needed. Students scheduled in Learning Support benefit from advising centered on the college search as well as registering for services and accommodations at the collegiate level. Additionally, Upper School Learning Specialists facilitate the application of standardized testing accommodation on tests such as ACTs, SATs, PSATs, and AP exams.

• Intensive Programs

  Students who benefit from an increased level of support and accommodations may enroll in Highland’s Intensive program in each division. These programs are characterized by low student to teacher ratio and individual attention beyond the threshold of typical Learning Support services. Additional fees are charged based on the design of the program.
  
  

  Lower School Intensive 
  
  

  Lower School students who benefit from individualized instruction can be scheduled in Highland’s Intensive program, giving them additional time in a one-on-one setting. Currently, Lower School Intensive students meet with the Learning Specialist five times a week for targeted instruction. Students are provided with a personalized learning experience to support remediation in core classes with an emphasis on reading and writing skills. Participation in the Intensive program requires private psychoeducational testing as well as a fee of $2,500 per academic year.

  
  

  Middle School Intensive
  
  Middle School students who benefit from additional academic and executive functioning support can be scheduled in Highland’s Intensive class in lieu of enrollment in a foreign language class by exercising a documented foreign language waiver.  The Intensive curriculum includes direct instruction and remediation of core academic skills, technologies to support schoolwork, organization of  materials and assignments, and study skill strategies. Participation in the Intensive program requires private psychoeducational testing as well as a fee of $2,000 per semester. 
  
  

  Upper School Intensive 
  
  

  Qualified Upper School students who benefit from additional individualized support can enroll in an Intensive class in place of another elective. The 9th and 10th-grade Intensive classes are taught by Learning Specialists and provide a balance of remediation of skills and support of current coursework. Focused on reading and writing support, the 9th- and 10th-grade Intensive emphasizes supplementing lessons taught in English and history classes. Students receive direct instruction in a small group setting centered on reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, written expression, and active study strategies. Students learn to apply strategies and technology to target assignment completion and bolster note-taking, organization, and time-management skills. Juniors and seniors are eligible to enroll in Highland’s Math/Science Intensive dedicated to supporting coursework in upper math and science courses, such as Algebra II and Chemistry. Intensive classes are worth 0.5 credits per semester and are graded on a pass-fail grading scale. Participation in the Intensive program requires private psychoeducational testing as well as a fee of $2,000 per semester for the 9th/10th Intensive and $1,500 per semester for the Math/Science Intensive. 

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