Overview

The Learning Prep Elementary and Middle School provides educational services for Language/Learning disabled children from 7-13, up to and through grade 7. The students may also present with a variety of additional learning issues including: attentional problems, visual-perceptual/visual- motor disabilities and social/emotional deficits. The students learning style require extensive modification of the curriculum content and a language based teaching methodology. Their students' language/learning needs are considered across all curriculums, and related service classes.

A small group, interactive, instructional format provides opportunities for academic learning, development of language skills and social skills training within the context of content instruction. At the Elementary level, many of the younger students are entering Learning Prep and initial their primary need is to "learn how to learn." That is, these students are generally unfocused and need time to respond to our specialized instruction. They are learning how to be part of a learning group. These beginning learners are frequently dependent learners who rely heavily on staff to introduce effective learning and social strategies and need repeated, guided practice with close staff monitoring. Our fifth grade students are prepared for their transition to Middle school and the opportunity to apply learned skills while continuing to study the core curriculum introduced at the Elementary levels. Students are generally slow to take learning risks and benefit from the safe learning environment at LPS where we implement a strong no verbal/physical abuse policy.

Realizing that transitions and organizational skills are areas of need, there is a school-wide emphasis on the development of organizational skills and getting ready for transitions. Staff establish consistent classroom and lesson routines, work and social expectations which assist the students in knowing what is expected during structured lessons and less structured social times.

Student work and social behavior is monitored by staff who work with counselors and parents to problem solve issues and mediate differences among students. Realizing that these skills do not develop automatically or merely through observation, this is an important aspect of the LPS program. The overarching goal is to assist students in becoming more independent and responsible for their learning and establishing social connections. An additional, equally important goal is to assist each student in developing self-advocacy skills.

From an academic standpoint, Learning Prep School strives to provide comprehensive instruction in language development and literacy skills. Literacy instruction includes structured teaching of Reading, Writing, Spelling skills across the curriculum. All curriculum content material incorporate the Guidelines provided through the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. MCAS testing is given to the students according to the mandate and requirements of the Department of Education of Massachusetts using the standard and non-standard allowable accommodations.

Learning Prep School has begun implementing a new system of visual tools into grades K-12 curriculum. These tools, called "Thinking Maps", are an exciting way to teach students to think on their own and process information independently. They were developed by Dr. David Hyerle in 1988 and are based on our fundamental thinking processes. Every person analyzes information in eight different ways: define, describe, compare/contrast, classify, break down into parts, sequence, cause/effect, and establish relationships between things. Think Maps are visual tools for understanding and mastering these eight thinking processes in a way that is clearly defined and common to teachers and students alike.

As students become fluent in Thinking Maps, they will be able to apply multiple thinking skills to problem-solve and develop higher level, abstract thinking. By implementing this program school-wide across the curricula, students can learn more effectively and efficiently, thus enabling learning objectives to be covered in less time and with greater retention. In addition to promoting integrated thinking and interdisciplinary learning, Thinking Maps can be utilized by teachers to assess student progress, gauge student knowledge, track student performance, and even assess their own lessons as they discover what students have learned from class. Thinking Maps likewise have been scientifically proven to raise test scores, including IQ and SAT tests.

These amazing tools comprise a visual language that works in every grade, in every subject, and at any level of academic ability. Students are able to organize and see their own thinking; teachers can then use the completed maps to observe the students' thinking processes. Thinking Maps software also has been distributed to students, allowing them to customize the maps to their lesson requirements. Learning Prep School is pleased to be on the forefront of this innovative educational trend.