When we plan to take our children to school, we mostly have traditional learning institutions in mind. But conventional classrooms may not be ideal for some students with learning differences. For instance, these learners often need help with challenges the regular school curriculum may not address. Therefore, such students require an environment customized to their needs.
Currey Ingram Academy is a Brentwood private school on a mission to offer students with learning differences the resources they need to reach their full potential. Such a school can be impactful in your child’s life in the following ways:
Table of Contents
1. Individualized Learning
Public schools are obligated to educate all children. But unfortunately, educators often teach in the middle. This means they prioritize the ‘average’ student, often to the detriment of those needing extra attention and help.
Sometimes, they do it unintentionally, without knowing the impact of their actions. In other cases, teachers stick to a single approach as a means of survival. Consequently, some learners fall by the wayside, forgotten, and overlooked.
Independent schools adopt a different approach. For starters, they typically have small class sizes, which increase the teacher-student ratio. This allows educators to focus on each individual, meet their needs, and help them realize their goals.
2. Utilizing Avant-Garde Technology
Independent schools prioritize the use of the latest assistive technologies and strategies to help learners perform at their best. These may include:
- Speed text-to-speech software
- Speech recognition apps
- Mind mapping
- Assistive writing tools
- Specialized keyboards
These tools help learners complete tasks more easily and promote understanding of otherwise tricky concepts. Thus, tutees can tackle assignments and tests with confidence.
They also encourage independent learning, a core competency that helps students find their passion. What’s more, by cultivating digital literacy, the apps, and tools allow learners to become more comfortable using technology.
At the same time, independent schools also rely on interactive multimedia and collaborative learning platforms to make lessons more engaging. As a result, learners can better grasp concepts and retain information.
3. Communal Support System
Private schools provide a communal environment that is often lacking in public schools. Teachers not only encourage students to learn from each other but also to build meaningful relationships. Consequently, pupils with learning differences feel included, valued, accepted, and encouraged.
Besides, seeing their peers overcome the same challenges can empower them to gain independence and confidence. And that’s not all.
Teachers collaborate with parents and other stakeholders to enhance the overall learning experience. Such involvement makes learning more holistic, often engendering better results.
Similarly, the supportive environment helps create a strong bond between teachers, staff, parents, and students. And when everyone is rooting for each other, it becomes easier for pupils to thrive.
4. Professional Guidance
Having a learning difference can be challenging for students. Some feel frustrated or discouraged at the sheer effort they must put in to succeed. Even so, with proper guidance, this is not an issue.
An independent school specializing in learning differences can provide relevant support. The educators are well-trained and have the appropriate knowledge to help students overcome challenges. Plus, their empathetic approach to teaching can make a significant difference, helping unlock their true potential.
For instance, teachers often encourage dialogue and provide encouraging feedback. They also don’t merely focus on clearing the syllabus or sticking to the teaching curriculum. Instead, their eyes are the prize – to help students develop essential life skills such as problem-solving and communication, which foster independence and responsibility.
Likewise, independent schools provide guidance counselors and other support staff to look out for their students’ overall well-being. These individuals attend to each student’s physical, mental, social, and emotional needs. In turn, this leads to a sense of belonging that is often crucial in finding success.
5. Multi-disciplinary Learning
Independent schools offer an integrated approach that combines multiple subjects under one curriculum. This allows learners to gain comprehensive knowledge without switching from one program to another.
They can also explore diverse topics and gain an understanding of certain subjects. Plus, such an approach encourages critical thinking, helping them achieve superior outcomes.
Besides, by combining the knowledge of various disciplines, students gain a broad perspective on issues, as they can look at problems from multiple angles. Thus, they can develop innovative solutions that go beyond the scope of traditional learning methods. For instance, their research and presentation are more comprehensive and articulate since they can refer to numerous topics.
In sum, independent schools can help children perform better academically, emotionally, and socially. As a result, they help shape their lives and allow them to thrive. Such institutions also spur learners to follow their passions by creating an environment that nurtures true growth and development. In other words, there’s a world of difference between public and independent schools for learning differences, and student outcomes are often the key indicator.
