Educational Support Services

List of 3 items.

• Lower School

  Lower School Educational Support Services (ESS) consists of one full-time specialist who serves students with a diagnosed Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in grades 2 through 4. Students benefit from tailored multi-sensory instructional techniques that accommodate their unique needs. ESS instructs struggling readers and writers with small group and individualized instruction. ESS builds strong foundational skills and provides differentiated instruction with scaffolded support to develop proficient readers and writers. These foundational skills focus on phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, word recognition and automaticity, oral vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, and fluency. As a student becomes a more proficient reader and writer, ESS continues to provide direct instruction using the regular classroom curriculum. Qualifying students attend ESS 60-90 minutes during the regular school day. ESS serves as a liaison between students, patrons, and teachers and informs classroom teachers of accommodations specific to each student’s learning needs. Students are encouraged to take risks and not be intimidated by mistakes or the need to seek assistance. Meaningful successes and positive experiences significantly enhance self-esteem and build confident learners.

• Middle School

  The Middle School's ESS program consists of two full-time learning specialists who provide students with the tools, strategies, and confidence to achieve success in their core and elective classes. In addition, the program facilitates individual achievement, personal responsibility, and independence. Students attend at least one class a day with their ESS teacher and a small group of other ESS students. In most cases, ESS takes the place of a World Languages class. Students work on staying organized, keeping up with class work, understanding materials taught that day, and on preparation for upcoming tests and projects. The learning specialists are apprised of all homework and tests in each subject area. They work with the student and his/her teacher to determine which areas need extra assistance and focus. Accommodations may include extended-time testing, specific subject area notes, and the option to take tests in the ESS classroom if necessary.

• Upper School

  The Upper School ESS is a tutorial program for grades 9-12. ESS students are fully mainstreamed and expected to meet all graduation requirements, with the exception of World Languages in some cases. Students meet with a learning specialist for one period a day, or every other day, in lieu of a study hall or an elective. Classes are divided by grade level and vary in size from one to five students per period. Students are supported in all core courses (not honors, AP, world languages, or electives). Students receive assistance in completing homework, preparing for tests and quizzes, writing papers, applying study skills, maintaining organization, prioritizing and recording homework, understanding their learning style(s), recognizing their strengths and weaknesses, and learning to self-advocate.  Classroom accommodations are based on psycho-educational test results and could include the following: extended time on tests and quizzes, teacher provided class notes, permission to record class lectures, use of a laptop for essay writing, use of a calculator, permission to listen to audio novels, and preferred seating.