Learning Strategies & Supports At The Winchendon School NYC

Learning Strategies & Supports At The Winchendon School

NYC

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

Greetings, At The Winchendon School - Brooklyn (TWS), we are passionate about providing an exceptional high school experience for those high school students with significant unrealized potential - but who have yet to find the right high school setting in which they can thrive. We embrace the reality that many of the most interesting and brightest students have learning differences, self-confidence and anxiety-related challenges, and/or developmental hurdles to overcome. Our School exists to provide a suite of solutions to help these high potential students flourish and get back on track to greater success in school and then in college.

Our Partnership with The Brooklyn Learning Center Our commitment to support students with different learning styles, challenges, and profiles has been the cornerstone of the School since its founding by Lloyd Harvey Hatch nearly 100 years ago. We have partnered with the Brooklyn Learning Center (BLC) to further enhance the breadth and specialization of fully integrated supports available to Winchendon students in a our rigorous, immersive and collaborative college prep academic program. The BLC team brings extensive experience and a track record of success in helping bright students overcome a range of challenges that hamper many students today and go on to achieve their full potential.

(continued)

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About The Brooklyn Learning Center - Why? For over 25 years, Brooklyn Learning Center has provided students and families with the guidance, cognitive remediation, and emotional support needed to overcome challenges stemming from specific learning disorders, executive dysfunction and ADHD, anxiety, depression, and spectrum disorders. The team of neuropsychologists at the BLC leverages the most contemporary research in adolescent brain development to provide cutting edge solutions for students. BLC is led by Dr. Amy Margolis, an assistant professor of medical psychology at Columbia University, who conducts neuroimaging research to understand the brain basis of anxiety and executive function problems in learning disorders. Amy and her team of neuropsychologists created Homework Therapy, an individual treatment for students with neurodevelopmental disorders and have helped thousands of students to overcome learning disabilities, school and test-based anxiety and depression, and other developmental challenges. Now with TWS they have developed School Therapy to deliver their unique approach IN SCHOOL. The Brooklyn Learning Center works with Winchendon School faculty to shape program and practices, and provides counseling, tutoring and additional support to a number of our current students.

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

Learning Strategies and Supports - The Overview These programs provide an individually designed path for each student to achieve independent academic success. A common goal for all students in these programs is to transition out of the program over their time at Winchendon as they become confident, independent, and selfdirected learners.

Winchendon offers a range of programs and levels of support to meet the needs of a variety of student profiles and learning styles.

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The Learning Strategies (LSP) Program (pp. 4-7) Learning Center at Winchendon (LCW) (pp. 8-9) Guided Study Hall (p. 10) Testing Accommodations and Administration (TAA) (p. 11)

All students enrolled in any of our programs have above average or greater intellectual ability and fully participate in Winchendon’s highly collaborative, project-based academic program - as well as the many other co-curricular programs, initiatives and opportunities available to Winchendon students.

The following pages provide an overview of the programs, and we hope that you will contact any of us to discuss further to discuss how Winchendon may be able to propel your student on the road to the most successful high school outcome.

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) - Overview & Who? Students in our Learning Strategies (LSP) program are fully engaged in all aspects of Winchendon’s mainstream college prep program and benefit from the additional guidance of and coaching from a TWS Learning Strategist (LS) - with the goal of guiding them to graduate as independent, confident, and self-actualized learners - ready to succeed in college.

Who? Winchendon’s LSP program serves students who: • • • • • • •

Have a specific learning disability with established compensatory strategies (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia…)

Are challenged by mild to modest executive functioning challenges and/or ADHD Lower processing or working memory profiles Want to build their organizational and motivational “muscles” Are looking to build academic self-confidence and/or address mild to modest test/performance anxiety Aim to overcome a weakness in a particular academic skill or subject area Seek to overcome test or classroom anxiety

...and, most importantly, who recognize that they have significant unrealized potential and are ready to take advantage of the extra support, resources, and new strategies to achieve real success.

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) What Will The Focus Be On? Each student in the LSP program works with their dedicated Learning Strategist. The Strategist acts as a coach and advocate, guiding each student through the development and strengthening of key skills and habits including...

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Time management Study skills Reading comprehension Annotating and note-taking Outlining, writing, and editing practices Organization, chunking, and scaffolding of major assignments Core recall and retrieval strategies (eg. vocabulary or math facts) Computational processes and reasoning Addressing limited skill deficiencies and “gaps” Self-advocacy and how to ask questions Peer/teacher relationships Appropriate and effective technology use Peer-to-peer collaboration and teamwork Test preparation and taking Being comfortable with “gray area,” the unknown, and change Receiving, processing, and acting on feedback

Some students may only need to focus on a few of these, and others may want to work on a number of them over time. The Learning Strategist works with a student and their family, advocates, and other members of their team to develop and maintain a personalized plan for that student the Individualized Learning Plan.

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) - How? A student in LSP has frequent individual and small group meetings interspersed throughout the week between classes and other commitments. These become part of their regular schedule. The Learning Strategist monitors each student’s progress towards goals while helping to establish priorities, practice independent study strategies, and overcome obstacles. The Learning Strategist will focus on developing in each student the organizational, executive functioning, self-reflective, and collaborative skills - as well as the self-confidence that are the cornerstones of learning success.

As important for a LSP student is the work that their Learning Strategist does “behind the scenes”: • •

• • •

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Development and ongoing implementation of a personalized Individualized Learning Plan (Plan) Ongoing communication with each student’s teachers, advisor, and parents - both seeking feedback on performance and goals, and providing coaching and strategies as how to most effectively engage, support, and assess the student Class observations and/or debriefs with teachers Coordination of limited accommodations and adjustments within the context of TWS mainstream curriculum Assisting the student and family in accessing standardized testing accommodations if recommended

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) - How? (continued) Additionally, students in the LSP have the opportunity to participate in workshops focusing on a variety of skills and challenges ranging from organization skills, best-classroom practices, effectively leveraging and harnessing technology, test prep, and overcoming performance anxiety.

Learning Strategists are specifically trained in methods and strategies that will help students develop better academic skills, habits, and confidence. The ongoing training and work of the Learning Strategists are overseen by our Learning Center team, which is constantly accessing and evaluating the most contemporary research and emerging best practices in the fields of executive functioning, learning differences, adolescent performance, and anxiety-related challenges.

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) - The Individualized Learning Plan The Individualized Learning Plan becomes a living and evolving roadmap in which goals are established and revised, and progress is measured. It starts by the Learning Strategist working with the student, family, and prior educators/advisors to understand the student.

• • • • •

What are specific strengths, weaknesses, and deficits?

What are special interests or passions - or perhaps dislikes?

What new strategies or habits would be most helpful?

What would the best plan be for developing those strategies, and what should be prioritized?

Are there any classroom methods or accommodations that will be especially helpful?

The Learning Strategist makes sure that each of the student’s teachers and advisor(s) understands the Plan, the suggested accomodations, the recommended strategies, and reviews the plan with ongoing check-ins.

Then, the student and the Learning Strategist will then regularly reflect on the Plan, reflecting on progress and challenges, and recalibrating the Plan as may be necessary.

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

The Learning Strategies Program (LSP) - Outcomes The goal of the LSP is to accelerate the growth of each participating student and to instill in each of them the strategies, habits, and confidence that will propel the student to success at college and beyond.

The following examples are just some of the universities and colleges to which recent alumni enrolled in learning strategies and support programs at Winchendon have matriculated:

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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Introducing The Learning Center at Winchendon (LCW) An Overview The Learning Center at Winchendon (LCW) provides a suite of highly individualized services specifically designed for high school students who are ready to be in an academically rigorous and very collaborative learning setting, but will be most successful when their daily experience incorporates significant, personalized academic and therapeutic support. The LCW provides those high school students with significant potential but who have struggled in other schools the opportunity to get back on track towards success at college.

LCW provides a fully integrated platform where students are immersed in: • • •

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A project-based, collaborative, and rigorous academic program which embraces personal interests and passions.

Individualized and integrated cognitive and emotional support designed to complement (and not conflict with) a mainstream high school experience.

Access to a college preparatory program with a track record for successfully placing students into the best colleges and universities.

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

The Learning Center at Winchendon (LCW) - Overview (continued) LCW students participate in the mainstream Winchendon School experience, yet have time to concurrently engage in a customized program that can integrate tutoring, credit or skill recovery, and psychotherapy, ensuring their continued development of cognitive skills and strategies as well as emotional growth and support - all within our college preparatory program. Students are supported on a carefully coordinated and integrated basis by their Learning Strategist and LC therapist.

For a comprehensive description of the Learning Center at Winchendon, please contact Amirah Mahdi at amahdi@winchendon.org or at (347) 462-0136.

THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

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Guided Study Hall Our Guided Study Hall is designed for students who will benefit from: • • • • •

A distraction-free place to study Guidance from a Learning Strategist in planning out assignments as well as efficient ways to turn in work Support to establish priorities and strategies for assignments, projects, and upcoming assessments Experience in reviewing completed work and making sure that it is well organized before it is submitted or presented to class Packing the backpack

Guided Study is available 3-4 days each week depending on the calendar.

Guided Study is available and included as part of both the Learning Strategies and Learning Center programs, and also may be directly enrolled independently.

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

Testing Accommodations and Administration (TAA) Each year, there are a number of student who have completed the Learning Strategies Program or the Learning Center at Winchendon - or a similar program at another specialty school - and they no longer need the daily supports and training.

Students who are operating successfully in the core program with the strategies and skills that they have already acquired, but still need support in the documenting, arranging, and administering test and classroom accommodations may enroll in Testing Accommodations and Administration (TAA). Members of the Learning Center team will work with the students to both make sure that they are getting appropriate accommodations internally at TWS as well navigating extended time or special test administration with external organizations such as the College Board (SAT and AP) and ACT.

Please note that the TAA is only available for students who have a current neuro-psych evaluation - completed within 24 months of the beginning of the current academic year - and with the prior approval of the Director of the Learning Strategies Program.

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Faculty Training and Professional Development It is also important to understand that the leadership of Learning Strategies and Support Programming at The Winchendon School oversee all training and development of Winchendon faculty and advisors. All faculty at TWS are purposely trained in teaching to and supporting a variety of learning styles - because we believe that many of the practices that serve students with specific LD can enhance the learning experiences of most, if not all, students and should be put in practice in almost every classroom. More often than not, the best approaches for working with kids with LD are the best educational practices.

The Learning Strategists work with the Learning Center to receive additional training and development for work with students with learning differences, ADHD, and EF challenges on an ongoing basis.

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

Summary and Availability Our Learning Strategies and Support Programs are highly individualized, led by specially trained Learning Strategists, and complement The Winchendon School’s college preparatory learning experience.

The programs are available either by the semester or for the full year as follows:

Semester

Year

Learning Strategies Program (LSP)

N/A

Y

The Learning Center at Winchendon

N/A

Y

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Guided Study Hall Testing Accommodations & Admin. (TAA)

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL

We hope that the preceding pages have provided a helpful overview of the dierent ways that The Winchendon School supports and empowers students who have great potential to be unleashed in the right setting.

Our passion is to help students discover just how successful that they can be when they are understood by their teachers - and then helping them develop the strategies and build the confidence that will allow them to flourish as independent learners.

Our commitment is to make sure that we know and support each of our students as a distinctive learner and young person - and then to ensure that his or her whole team at TWS understands how to best nurture, encourage, and propel that student to achieving their greatest potential.

Our mission is to launch each of our students as well-prepared, confident, and adaptable learners who will thrive in our dynamic world.

Please contact any of us to discuss how The Winchendon School can best support your student, help propel him or her to greater success, and learn why we are the best college prep school for students with significant unrealized potential.

Gladys Gross

Director of Learning Strategies & Support ggross@winchendon.org 347-763-8520

Jared Magee

Dean of Teaching and Learning jmagee@winchendon.org 347-763-8520

Sean Duncan

Head of School sduncan@winchendon.org 347-328-5622

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Guarantee To Our

STUDENTS

At The Winchendon School, we guarantee that we will...

Know and support you better - your interests and passions, your strengths and weaknesses, and your goals.

Provide you with a personalized learning experience in a collaborative and rigorous academic program.

Deliver the best high school experience possible, making your learning more fun, more impactful, and less stressful.

Make learning more interesting and meaningful, thereby making it easier for you to achieve much greater success.

Work with you to develop better options for college, university, and life after high school.

Ensure that you feel safe and supported so that you can develop and flourish intellectually and emotionally

winchendon.org

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THE BEST COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT UNREALIZED POTENTIAL