Lower School support for students with learning profiles works differently than in grades 5 - 8. This is due to how the schedule works for the younger boys. The Lower School learning specialist works in collaboration with all of the classroom teachers, reading specialists, specials teachers and outside professionals to support students with diagnosed learning disabilities. For those students who have had outside assessments and have a diagnosed learning difference, the learning specialist will work with the student in a variety of individualized ways to address specific identified needs. This may include 1:1 pull out support, in classroom intervention in diagnosed areas of need, or small group targeted instruction. 

The learning specialist also provides intervention for those students who may be struggling as identified by their classroom teacher or other support staff. The learning specialist works with a team made up of teachers, the Division Head, and other support staff to brainstorm and suggest educational procedures that a student's teacher might implement to help that child in his classroom. The learning specialist monitors and provides accommodations and strategies through in-class support with small and large groups during core curriculum lessons, observations in multiple settings, looking at samples of student work, and doing informal assessments. All of these strategies provide a more detailed look at the students learning needs.

These processes help Town identify students with areas of concern, provide timely interventions, monitor their progress, and adjust the intensity and nature of these interventions depending on a student's responsiveness.

The Lower School learning specialist is also involved in grade-level and specials teachers ( Art, Drama, PE, Music, Reading) meetings throughout the school year. As well as attends Parent/Teacher conferences as needed. The learning specialist also collaborates regularly with parents to ensure ongoing communication and a supportive team approach. 

Upper School support for students with learning profiles works differently than in K-4. This is in part because of the schedule, but also to ensure that the boys are not missing instructional time in their classes or other core components of the middle school experience. We are sensitive to each boy's individual needs and tailor support accordingly. Support for the boys happens in several ways. The learning specialist regularly pushes into all academic classrooms one to two times a rotation to assist with small group work, help with 1:1 conferencing, and provide extra support for large group projects. The learning specialist also observes students in classes to adjust support strategies and help implement relevant accommodations. We continually build out our role in the classroom and offer assistance with the different types of activities and projects that are planned out by the classroom teachers. Teachers also utilize the learning specialists as a resource to provide a quiet place for tests and additional time for completing work, quizzes, and projects as needed.

During each A and B Day Schedule, we have a rotational meeting with teachers to work on curriculum planning, adapting classwork, tests, quizzes, and any projects. We work closely with each subject teacher to ensure that we have a good sense of the curriculum in each discipline area and can provide specific support for the needs of individual students in those classes. We work collaboratively with teachers to help with the designing or modifying of activities with the aim to make them more accessible to a wide range of learners.

Study Hall is another opportunity for the learning specialist to actively support and monitor students. The learning specialist rotates through the advisories to ensure a regular check-in with the boys and their advisors on a weekly basis. In addition, after a few weeks of Study Hall in the advisories, the boys are welcome to come to the Learning services offices to work quietly, get additional support, work on assignments, or finish quizzes/tests.