What is the Learning Resource Center?
Our program focuses on mainstreaming students with mild to moderate disabilities through the provision of Resource Center remediation and support. Diagnostic services, based on testing and classroom observations, are used to determine a students’s strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. The Learning Specialists (Lena Fishman MA., Yaniv Salzberg MA., Barbara Silberman MA.) collaborate with classroom teachers to implement appropriate teaching strategies, accommodations and modifications for students. Regardless of level of instruction, we incorporate a variety of strategies and programs, based on sequential, multi-sensory instruction.
How Does a Student Qualify to Receive Support From the LRC?
K-2
After several documented interventions have been implemented by classroom teachers; students in grades K-2 that are still struggling academically or working below grade level qualify to receive support from the LRC as a diagnostic placement. A recommendation from the Student Study Team allows a student to receive support from the Learning Resource Center.
3-9
Students in grade 3-9 must have formal testing documenting a learning disability in order to qualify to receive support from the Learning Resource Center.
What Is the Student Study Team?
After several interventions have been explored in the classroom a plan can be formed for a struggling student at a Student Study Team meeting.
The Student Study consists of a team that includes the Head of Division, Learning Specialist, parents, as well as the student’s classroom teachers and relevant specialists who are invited to share information. Depending upon the specific case, any number of recommendations may be made and could include:
* Trying more interventions and modifications in the classroom.
* Placing the student in the Learning Resource Center as a “diagnostic placement”, in order for the learning specialist to learn more about the student’s specific needs and how to best help him.
* Recommending an informal assessment or screening by the Learning Specialist
* Recommending an after-school tutor
* Recommending further evaluation by professionals such as psychologist, speech therapist, and/or occupational therapist outside the school.
What Happens If A Student Needs Testing?
At DenverJDS the recommendation for formal psycho-educational testing must come out of a Student Study Team meeting. We recommend that testers collaborate with Learning Specialists and classroom teachers to ensure accurate and helpful results.
Below is a list of private testers that have worked well with our school to ensure success for students:
Dr. Kim Dwyer - 303-727-0146
Dr. Joyce Fine - 720-859-3895
Dr. Mary Beth O’Hagen - 303-333-3362
Cherry Creek Schools also provides some free testing:
Suzie Johnston - 720-554-4340
What Should be Included in the Testing Report?
- Evidence of collaboration between the tester and the school. For example, the tester may gather information from classroom-teacher rating forms, speak to teachers directly, or directly observe students in the classroom.
- Evidence of previous interventions tried.
- List of instructional strategies based on testing for teachers to use in classroom and parents to use at home.
- Data regarding: intellectual levels, academic levels, processing information, language skills
- An academic baseline that teachers and parents can use to measure progress
- Indications of greater potential
- Student learning style
- Strengths and and concerns in areas of ability and suspected disability
What if Speech-Language Testing or Therapy is Recommended?
The Student Study Team may recommend an evaluation and/or therapy from a private Speech-Language Pathologist for your child if there are concerns with speech articulation ofsounds, vocabulary development, ability to follow directions, verbal or written expression, or listening or reading comprehension. Therapy may be provided on campus during the school day by aprivate provider or at their offices after school. Below is a list of private Speech-Language Pathologists that have worked well with our school to ensure success for students:
What if Additional Academic Tutoring is Recommended?
The Learning Resource Center supports families who seek additional private academic therapy in additional towhat is offered by the DJDS resource program. Some children require the one-on-one specialized support provided by an experienced learning specialized who provides programs that are supported in research. These learning specialists can provide an additional individualized therapy programin reading, spelling, writing and math. There are private groups we have had good experience with that work as ateam with our staff to ensure students success. Below is a list of private learning specialists groups were commend:
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