Learning Support Program - Savannah Country Day School

Continuing the mission of Nina Pape to "educate the whole child," the Learning Support Program works to provide a continuum of support across all grade levels for Country Day students as well as their families and teachers. The goal of the Learning Support Program is to prepare students who have diagnoses that impact learning to become successful and independent life-long learners.

Differentiated levels of instruction and support (each with an associated fee) are available to students, from informal weekly check-ins to academic strategy instruction to structured intervention in reading, written expression, or mathematics during scheduled periods in the school day. It is customary and desirable for a student to start with a high level of support that then tapers off as the student progresses each year.

The Savannah Country Day School requires a current educational evaluation from a licensed psychologist to be on file with the School in order for a student to be eligible for Learning Support services and/or academic accommodations.

Highlights of the Learning Support Program

The Learning Specialist is the advocate for the student and parent
Each student’s Learning Profile and Accommodation Plan is reviewed annually
The Learning Specialist has regular communication and collaboration with classroom teachers regarding student’s accommodations, assignments, tests, and grades
The student participates in 1:1 or 1:2 specific academic strategy instruction and/or small-group academic support sessions
We coordinate applications for extended time accommodations on standardized testing (ERB, OLSAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT and AP Exams)
We refer students to outside professional service providers as necessary with parental consent
2/3 of our learning specialists are Orton-Gillingham trained

The successful Learning Support student most often:

While we do not modify the school curriculum, we often are able to offer accommodations such as:

Upper School

In the Upper School, the Learning Support Program offers 1:2 instruction or small group instruction to support students experiencing academic challenges with time management, organization, effective test preparation, attention issues, and/or specific learning differences.

Increased independence and self-advocacy is encouraged as students mature and the need for support changes.
Assistance with accommodations for SAT, ACT, and AP tests is provided as early as freshman year.
As a student becomes engaged in the college application process, the Learning Support Program acts as a resource for the student, the student’s family, and the College Counseling office.

Middle School

In the Middle School, the Learning Support Program offers 1:1 or 1:2 instruction to support students who experience general academic difficulties due to challenges with work organization, time management, reading efficiency, problem-solving strategies, attention issues, and/or specific learning differences.

Learning specialists work closely with students to maximize their strengths and bolster self-advocacy and self-confidence.
Using a team approach, teachers and learning specialists use their shared expertise and curricular knowledge to incorporate individualized learning strategies and skills into subject-specific instruction and reinforcement.

Lower School

In Lower School, the Learning Support Program offers 1:1 instruction or small group multi-sensory instruction focused on literacy and math skills development. Students with a diagnosed reading disability will work with an Orton-Gillingham Associate.

Lower School learning specialists also work with classroom teachers to assist students who experience general academic difficulties due to challenges with work organization, time management, attention issues, and/or specific learning differences. This framework is valuable in addressing potential gaps in understanding and mastery of basic learning skills in the early grades.
Speech-language therapists play an important role in literacy development. The learning specialist can assist parents in securing speech-language therapy services for their child.

Meet the Learning Support Team