We never stop learning.
The practices we implement are based on the most up-to-date research.
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Many of our tutors are trained in the industry-standard Orton-Gillingham "Plus" Phonological Awareness & Fluency Training program, created by the late Dr. Fran Bowman. Orton-Gillingham "Plus" is taught in a 60-hour course, and includes the traditional Orton-Gillingham curriculum + phonological awareness and reading fluency strategies.our Educational Diagnostician, is a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (certified by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) in conjunction with the International Dyslexia Association) and an Orton-Gillingham "Plus" trainer.
Many of our writing specialists are trained in Jemicy School's Paragraphology™ program, developed by Bridget Barley. From Jemicy School website:
"Paragraphology™ is the study of writing through color-coding. Paragraphology™ is a multisensory, comprehensive, scaffolded approach to writing and note-taking that can be easily utilized by children, teens, college students, and adults. Students are systematically taught a formula that guides them through the process of writing a basic paragraph to a comprehensive understanding of the five-paragraph essay. Through scaffolding, repetition, and practice of reading quality examples, producing work of their own, coding and unlocking writing prompts, and dissecting expository text, students learn the writing process inside and out."
At LINKZ, many of our students greatly benefit from working with V/V. From the Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes website:
"A primary cause of language comprehension problems is difficulty creating an imagined gestalt. This is called weak concept imagery. This weakness causes individuals to get only “parts” of information they read or hear, but not the whole... The Visualizing and Verbalizing® (V/V®) program develops concept imagery—the ability to create an imagined or imaged gestalt from language—as a basis for comprehension and higher order thinking. The development of concept imagery improves reading and listening comprehension, memory, oral vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing."
Academic Specialists at LINKZ have recently utilized the Handwriting Without Tears® program in conjunction with Orton-Gillingham "Plus” reading instruction. Students and Academic Specialists together have incorporated the highly engaging digital songs and handwriting apps on the "HWT" platform to make handwriting entertaining, while also learning new letters and sounds. Once the automaticity of formation of letters is mastered, sounds can be introduced. The “HWT" digital platform also has the ability to generate learning tools that coincide with Orton-Gillingham "Plus" linkages.
At the core of students struggling with learning differences, inherent trauma may subsist. Whether from being bullied by peers for being "different", struggling with familial dynamics, or feeling a low sense of worth, our students often face stress, anxiety, and discomfort, especially when confronted with academic tasks. At LINKZ, we understand how important it is to address our students' social-emotional needs, especially as they relate to their academic sense-of-self. Our leadership team has been trained by Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C DAPA through her Institute's Trauma Certificate Program®; from The Ferentz Institute's website:
"[The Trauma Certificate Program provides an] understanding of the myriad dynamics related to trauma and its reverberating effect on... cognitions, affect, social functioning, and behavioral choices. The philosophical underpinning of the program is a depathologized, strengths-based approach to the assessment and treatment of adolescent and adult survivors of trauma, abuse, and neglect. Symptoms will be reframed as inevitable, creative coping strategies that “make sense” when put into the historical context of trauma or a dysfunctional family-of-origin. [There are] many creative, effective, and empathic ways to help... reclaim a sense of healthy empowerment, achieve a much higher level of functioning, and integrate the resources necessary for genuine healing."
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Academic and emotional growth, connected.
