SL_EducationDept_1020FINAL_REG1 . qxp_Layout 1 10 / 22 / 20 8 : 08 PM Page 1 E D U C A T I O N e Every student with a learning difference needs a supportive educational environment in order to thrive , not only in school but also in life . B Y BILL DONAHUE Engaged veryone wants to “ fit in , ” especially in our youngest years . direct intervention and targeted instruction . the National Center for Learning Disabilities This fact tends to create discord for E This has resulted in the push for early ( NCLD ) , which estimates that one in five students who do not fit neatly into screening , even at four and five years of children has some type of learning difference the tidy box that standardized education age ; learning disabilities are not often diag - or attention issue . This number has remained has prepared for them . Chris Hancock , nosed officially at that age , but the early consistent over the past several decades , head of school for Benchmark School in warning indicators for risk can target efforts she suggests , but NCLD reports that few Media , believes this may explain why schools for more skilled teaching . children are formally identified for learning such as his have seen “ overwhelming “ At AIM , students join us at all grade disabilities , and only one in 16 children re - interest and enrollment ” in recent years . levels , ” Roberts says . “ Perhaps the highest ceive an Individualized Education Plan , or “ We look to treating each learner , each new enrollment occurs when students are IEP , in their school setting . reader , as an individual , ” Hancock says of in third to sixth grade , when parents request Since AIM Academy opened its doors Benchmark School , a coeducational school formal testing to identify why their child is 15 years ago , the Conshohocken - based for children who learn differently . “ In reading , struggling . Parents share with us that their school has seen enrollment grow from 24 for instance , it starts with a simple acknowl - children are often transformed when they to 383 . Roberts credits the increase to parents edgement : that teaching reading to Suzy start attending a school that is designed to seeking out evidenced - based literacy cur - requires a fundamentally different set of give them the tools they need to succeed riculum grounded in the science of reading . beliefs than teaching Suzy to read . The and the freedom to discover their talents “ The population is not believed to be latter reorients the subject and privileges and interests . ” growing , but rather awareness is growing innovation over standardization . It invites , The gap only widens the longer a stu - for the early warning signs identifying that among many other areas , cultural and per - dent’s needs go unaddressed , according to a child may be at risk for a learning disability , ” sonal elements into the process of teaching Hancock . Waiting too long , he says , may she adds . “ Many researchers have turned reading . Students thereby connect and en - cause some gaps to never close . their attention to early literacy screeners as gage more . ” “ It’s why a school like Benchmark has a way of identifying children as early as Students with learning differences such thrived since the introduction of learning possible . ” as dyslexia , dysgraphia , and dyscalculia disabilities into the American lexicon , ” he The ideal time to make the most signif - often struggle in traditional learning envi - adds . “ Serving grades one through eight , icant gains and to close any reading gaps is ronments . Sometimes their learning differ - [ we offer ] a child - centered , research - based , before fourth grade , according to Roberts . ences go unnoticed , or effectively undiag - innovative , and warm environment for our She cites research indicating that , after nosed , until their struggles become glaring . young learners to be comfortable being fourth grade , it takes four times as long to AIM Academy Executive Director and Co - themselves and to learn about learning close any reading delays due to lack of founder Pat Roberts references data from SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2020 72 |