SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS
At Marvelwood, we are committed to the belief that every student learns differently, and that these differences are to be appreciated and accommodated through a combination of intensively targeted efforts on the part of the faculty to make even the most challenging college-preparatory curricula accessible to students of all abilities, talents, interests and learning styles. Our unique Learning Support programs provide the tools that help students with learning challenges experience academic success, increase self-confidence, and acquire strong learning and self-advocacy skills needed in college and beyond. Students at every level of ability are encouraged to participate actively in their studies, practice self-advocacy, and accept guidance from the professionals with whom they interact every day.
The school offers optional Learning Support programs in which teachers work one-on-one or in small groups with students to overcome obstacles to their academic success. Our teachers have the training, experience, creativity, and patience to identify and remediate weaknesses in basic skills, to support a student’s efforts in content classes through the use of specific learning strategies or assistive technology, and to fill in the gaps which may present an impediment to success in college preparatory coursework.
ORTON-GILLINGHAM INTENSIVE
A program of daily intensive language remediation, incorporating one period of Orton-Gillingham (OG) instruction and a separate period of appropriate supplemental academic support. Students work with highly-trained OG specialists who are able to professionally assess what each student needs in terms of skill-building. Orton-Gillingham is a diagnostic, prescriptive, and multisensory approach that varies widely from individual to individual that is used to support students with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges.
STRATEGIES I
One-on-one tutorial support for students with documented learning differences and academic weaknesses in multiple areas. Students in Strategies I meet individually with their teacher on a daily basis, focusing on academic support for content classes, preview and review of homework, use of assistive technology, and instruction/strengthening of reading, writing, organizational, and study skills. Individualized support is also available for students with documented math differences.
STRATEGIES II
Small-group support designed to improve and support students’ overall achievement as they move toward increased academic independence. Students meet daily with a teacher in groups of no more than four, and focus on organizational and time management, metacognition and self-awareness, language and math skills, learning theories, and stress and anxiety management.
LEARNING CENTER PROGRAM
LEARNING SUPPORT IS NEVER ONE-SIZE FITS ALL THERE ARE NO CRACKS AT MARVELWOOD
Our students don’t find the cracks to fall through because, at Marvelwood, we support them at every turn. Our small class sizes and advisory programming ensure that every student is known and every student has many trusted adults invested in his/her academic, social and emotional success. On any given day, a student will be taught by 3 to 4 subject-specific faculty, receive tutoring support during a free block, eat lunch in our community Dining Hall, interact with a coach during extra-curricular activities or connect with a dorm parent over the course of the evening or morning hours. This system of constant contact creates a strong sense of community and support for our students and allows our faculty the ability to quickly and proactively meet the needs of our students, before they might even know they need it.
At Marvelwood, we are committed to the belief that every student learns differently, and because of this, our learning support is never one-size fits all. Our highly-trained learning specialists work to provide the tools that help students with learning challenges experience academic success, increase self-confidence, and acquire strong learning and self-advocacy skills needed in college and beyond. This is why we offer families three different structured learning support options, from intense one-on-one support to self-guided review with instruction. Our goal is to positively transition students from strong support to independence over their time at Marvelwood and our learning support program is strategically designed to help accomplish this.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Marvelwood School is committed to serving its diverse campus community by providing students with support and education for their personal and academic success through confidential counseling, psychiatric consultation, outreach, and prevention services. Our full-time, oncampus counselors work to proactively support students’ ongoing individual development. Counselors assist students in working through normative developmental hurdles, fostering adaptive solutions, and developing a strong sense of self. This important resource helps to prioritize social and emotional well-being on campus which ultimately, helps our students thrive.
CONNECTIONS
In the Connections Program, students work collaboratively with a coach to strengthen social-emotional competency skills. In one-on-one and group settings, the coach and students explore topics including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Each student has an individualized program that is designed around the student’s strengths and challenges. The coach works with the faculty and staff to maximize the level of support that the student is provided.