Learning Services at St. Andrew's School RI

Unique Learning Styles and Needs

Using an inclusive, co-teaching model, St. Andrew’s Learning Services Program supports students with mild learning differences including dyslexia, language-based learning disabilities, attention deficits, executive functioning challenges, and other learning differences, such as school-related anxiety.

Within co-taught classes, and utilizing additional support as needed, our teachers work with students to identify their strengths and demonstrate different pathways to success. Students learn to become effective self-advocates as they gain knowledge and understanding of their individual strengths, challenges, vulnerabilities and unique learning profiles. As a result, self-esteem and self-confidence grow.

Our Co-Teaching Model
Students enrolled in our Learning Services program take literature and mathematics courses that are co-taught by a content teacher and a learning services specialist. Within this model, students are able to access the same full International Baccalaureate program as their peers while also receiving the differentiated instruction and strategies they need to achieve content mastery. In addition, all Learning Services students are enrolled in Academic Workshop, a small group support class taught by a learning support specialist. In all of our classes, regardless of the subject, teachers utilize our St. Andrew's Universal Practices. Together, these components allow for the education of the whole child.

Academic Workshop

This course was developed for students with attentional and/or executive functioning difficulties. Students who take this course may need extra review of assignments; support to improve handing in assignments; encouragement and practice developing independent work completion habits; or time management in breaking down long term assignments. In addition, support may be needed with materials management, or organization to build efficiency in finding needed items. Still others may need support with planning ahead to build success, learning how to initiate a challenging task in a timely manner, knowing what to do when completing school tasks when they are home (or back to the dorm), and how to get started with their schoolwork.

The goal is not only to improve these executive skills and strategies, but also to reduce stress and increase academic success. In addition, because Academic Workshop is taught by teachers who are co-teaching in two of he students’ content classes, students learn preparation and study strategies specific to their courses.

Students in our Middle Years Programme attend Academic Workshop every day; students in our Diploma Programme attend every other day.

International Baccalaureate and Learning Services
Learning Services students take the same IB courses as their peers. Inclusive by design, the IB approach values student diversity and respects individual learning differences.

In our Middle Years Programme (grades 6 through 10), our co-teaching model, small class size, Academic Workshop, and St. Andrew’s Universal Practices combine to offer each Learning Services student an academic program tailored to their individual learning profile.

In our Diploma Programme (grades 11 and 12), students continue to take Academic Workshop and receive supports as needed — and can choose between either Standard Level or Higher Level IB courses. Our Learning Services director, student advisors, and teachers work with each student enrolled in the Learning Services program to determine a course load that challenges them and enables them to reach their academic goals, while continuing to provide the additional academic support they need.

Right Fit for Your Student?

Although there is no “typical” Learning Services student, and all of our students are unique, most students share similar qualities in their learning profiles and their educational needs. Our students possess average to above average cognitive abilities and may or may not have a formal diagnosis. It is not uncommon, however, for students to have one or more learning vulnerabilities that interfere in the learning process. A small number of students identified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder also attend St. Andrew’s.

Students who participate in our Learning Services Program may have one or more of the following diagnoses:

Language-based learning differences including dyslexia
Receptive and/or expressive language deficits
Difficulty with executive functioning skills
Memory storage or recall issues
Auditory processing disorder
Concurrent conditions such as ADD or ADHD that exacerbate a student’s learning challenge
Non-verbal learning disorder
Dysgraphia
Social cognition challenges
Processing issues that impact learning (e.g., memory, retrieval, graphomotor speed and production

St. Andrew’s School is not the right fit for every student. We are not a therapeutic school and our programs are not designed to meet the needs of children with primary behavioral or emotional difficulties.

For More Information, Please Contact:

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Dana Gurney

Director of Learning Services

Information for Learning Service Applicants

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Assessment and Evaluation Information

As we strive to meet the individual needs of each potential student, candidates for the Learning Services program are evaluated based on their learning profile and the potential to thrive in our community.
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Learning Services