Courses

In the Pathways to Independent Learning course, students are given tools and strategies to take charge of the learning process. They will be able to take full responsibility for choosing effective approaches to long-term learning.  Students need the skills and strategies of independent learning in order to excel in any learning environment or situation. Research has proven that facility and practice of executive functioning skills and critical thinking is a greater predictor of student success than IQ. Students who develop the skills of independent learning are better able to adapt and succeed when they encounter obstacles.

The Step Up Study Skills course is designed to facilitate a smooth transition to high school by teaching students the vital executive functioning skills necessary for academic success. Success in high school depends on more than just innate intellectual ability. Students must practice disciplined approaches to learning using sound techniques if they are to succeed in a rigorous curriculum. The program consists of 5 major themes in its instructional units: Setting and Achieving Goals; Getting Organized Managing Your Time and Improving Your Study Habits; Reading and Taking Notes from Textbooks; Memory Strategies; and Steps in the Learning Process: Developing Critical Thinking Skills.