Student Support

Student Support Services was created to help students meet the academic challenges of an academically accelerated, college preparatory school. Student Support Services is responsible for directing and facilitating the School’s efforts to ensure that every student understands his or her individual learning strengths, affinities and challenges, helping them maximize his or her learning potential. Student Support Services has been designed to assist students at all grade levels with diagnosed learning disabilities, short-term individual learning needs, additional study skills, and help in specific academic areas. Fees may apply based on the services provided.

Students Served

Academic Assistance Plan

The Academic Assistance Plan is an individualized, academic support plan that is available to those students who have a full educational evaluation on file with the School that demonstrates learning differences with significant weaknesses that impact academic achievement. This evaluation must have been completed within the last three years. The evaluation must contain specific learning environment recommendations, which address the diagnosed learning difference(s). The evaluation and pre-referral intervention corroborate the necessity for an intensive, specialized approach to learning. Episcopal Collegiate does not guarantee that all recommendations for accommodations can be implemented.

Services Provided

Services provided by Learning Services include but may not be limited to the following:

Assessment and interpretation of academic performance
Assessment of standardized and diagnostic test results
Academic monitoring
Classroom observations
Pre-screening for reading and language difficulties
Consultation services for teachers and parents for the purpose of enhancing learning for those students who learn differently
Assistance in the development and implementation of an AAP
Coordination of on-campus tutors
Regular communication with a student’s support system (parents, faculty, tutors, administrators, diagnosticians, therapists and counselors)
Sourcing of tutors, therapists and evaluators
Sourcing of professional development resources for classroom teachers

Parent Resources

General

Understood

www.understood.org

Extensive source of information on wide variety of learning and behavioral challenges
Parent Toolkit Feature

‘A Parent’s Guide to Helping Kids with Learning Differences’

www.SchwabLearning.org

Learning Disabilities Online The World’s Leading Website on Learning Disabilities

www.ldonline.org

National Center for Learning Disabilities

www.ncld.org

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities

www.smartkidswithld.org

Dyslexia

ADHD

Struggling Readers

Reading Rockets

www.readingrockets.org

Learning Ally- Making Reading Accessible for All

www.learningally.org

Parent Page: http://www.learningally.org/Parents/ParentHome.aspx

Bookshare

www.bookshare.org

Bookshare Web Reader (features include text-to-speech through the computer’s installed voice software, word highlighting, etc.)
ohttps://www.bookshare.org/cms/get-started/how-read-books/read-your-own
Bookshare’s Read: OutLoud Bookshare Edition (downloadable reading software for computer/laptop) – Features include note taking, definition look-up, the ability to see and hear words as they are highlighted, etc.
Bookshare’s Go Read – accessible e-book reader for smartphones and tablets, including Nook HD/HD+

Lit2Go

http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/

A free collection of stories and poems in MP3 (audiobook) format.
For each passage, an abstract, citation, playing time, and word count is provided
Reading passages can be downloaded as a PDF and printed for use as a read-along and/or classroom resource

Assistive Technology

Learning Ally

https://learningally.org/

Students may access audiobooks for both novels and textbooks through a learning ally account through the school. Contact Catherine Radtke to set up an account.

Co:Writer

https://cowriter.com/

This subscription is based word prediction program is grammar smart and inventive spelling aware. It is a fantastic writing resource for dyslexic students.

Study Skills Curriculum

We aim to prepare students for their academic endeavors through intentional and explicit instruction of study skills. Fourth and fifth graders have two hours each week of Structured Study Hall. During this time, students have dedicated lessons on how to maximize efficiency in organization, time management, reading strategies, note-taking, and test preparation. Teachers ensure that students have ample support and opportunity to apply their newly acquired study skills in everyday activities. In 6th grade, study skills lessons are taught through advisory groups during the first semester. Students explore executive functioning skills, goal setting, test and exam preparation, and effective note taking and frequent checks of their daily planners ensure that they are keeping up with daily and long-term assignments.

Scientific Reading Instruction

Research is clear that early literacy instruction must involve explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Our Prek4-5th grade teachers are trained through the Institute For Multi-Sensory Education. The IMSE approach is based off of the Orton-Gillingham Methodology and focuses on direction instruction that is sequential, structured, and multi-sensory.

Catherine Radtke

Associate Head of Lower School

Director of Student Support Services

Contact Catherine

Learning Ally

All Episcopal students may have free access to audio versions of novels and textbooks through our school subscription to Learning Ally. Students can access the audiobooks on their laptops, Ipads, or iPhones. Contact Catherine Radtke if you are interested in an account.

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