LEARNING LAB - Frassati Catholic Academy

The Falcon Learning Lab is specifically designed to enhance the educational experience of students at Frassati Catholic Academy by offering customized assistance for those with diverse learning needs in reading and math.

Tailored Support for Frassati Catholic Academy Students

The Learning Lab will assist students referred by teachers from grades K-8.
Resources being used to identify:
- Aimsweb
- NWEA MAP
- Unit Assessments
- IXL
Teachers will communicate the need to school administration, and if there is a documented requirement based on student performance, the referral process will commence.
The length of time in the Learning Lab will be based on student performance both in the Learning Lab and the classroom.

Learning Environment

The Learning Lab serves as a dedicated classroom where students engage in focused, small-group instruction. It provides a quieter, more controlled setting compared to a traditional classroom, making it particularly beneficial for students who thrive on individualized attention.

Establishing a routine is crucial in the Learning Lab resource room, where many students flourish with predictability. A consistent daily schedule can help reduce anxiety, ease transitions, and enhance focus. We start the day with a warm greeting, followed by activities focused on phonemic awareness and/or number sense.

The Learning Lab’s layout is thoughtfully designed to foster both learning and comfort. Tables are organized to allow for easy movement and flexibility. Horseshoe-shaped tables enable small group activities, while individual flexible seating provides personal space for focused tasks. Students also have access to quiet areas where they can retreat when they need a break or a calming environment. Real life manipulatives help foster real world learning. Inclusivity is essential for a successful Learning Lab, with the space decorated with student-friendly visuals, including educational posters, sight words, and homophones.

Learning Lab Instructional Activities

Groves Literacy Intervention Program

Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Fluency
Comprehension
Vocabulary

Math Skills

Math readiness (number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, counting, skip counting, etc.)
Math number sense
Problem solving

Parent Communication

Effective communication with parents is vital to the success of our Learning Lab program. Through conferences, phone calls, and emails, parents offer invaluable insights into their child’s needs. This ongoing dialogue between the classroom teacher and Learning Lab staff ensures that both home and school environments effectively support the student’s development.

The Learning Lab staff provides numerous opportunities for parents to engage during conferences, regularly collaborates with classroom teachers, shares benchmark scores in the fall, winter, and spring, and offers periodic updates on progress monitoring results. Additionally, we send parents reading and/or math packets of work their child completed in the Learning Lab along with a list of skills their child is currently working on. This consistent communication helps maintain open lines of dialogue and fosters strong relationships with families.

Learning Lab FAQs

How will I know if my student is attending the Frassati Learning Lab?

The teacher will send a form home requesting permission to attend the Learning Lab.

Will students miss instructional time to attend the Learning Lab?

Teachers will work together so students do not miss math or reading instruction (to the best of their abilities).

How will I know how my student is progressing?

Students who receive small group reading interventions will receive Aimsweb progress monitoring graphs in December, February, April and May, along with fall, winter and spring Aimsweb benchmarking results. Math assessments will depend upon which math skill your child is working towards mastery using the IXL and teacher observations.

Aimsweb Wilson Based Tutoring Groves Literacy Intervention Program Math Skills

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Frassati uses Aimsweb to assess literacy skills for all students from kindergarten to grade 3, as well as for selected students in grades 4-8. This tool helps us identify students who may be at risk of falling short of their academic goals, enabling us to develop early intervention plans and track their effectiveness.

Aimsweb FAQs

Letter Naming Fluency (LNF):

This test of early literacy skills assesses the kindergarten child’s ability to name letters. The student is given a paper with uppercase and lowercase letters arranged in a random order. The student is asked to name as many letters as he/she can in one minute.

Letter Word Sounds Fluency (LWSF):

This test of early literacy skills assesses the kindergarten child’s ability to provide the sounds that letters make. The student is given a paper with lowercase letters arranged in a random order. The student is asked to say the sounds of as many letters as he/she can in one minute.

Oral Reading Fluency (ORF):

This is an assessment of oral reading fluency given to students in first grade and above. It measures how fluently and accurately students can read passages written at their grade level. During the benchmark assessments the students are given two passages and asked to reach each one aloud for one minute. Students who can read accurately and fluently are better able to comprehend what they read.

Why are we doing this? Does this affect my child’s grade?

Aimsweb enables students to demonstrate what they know and to identify what they need to learn. This test does not affect students’ grades. It only helps the teacher understand how to individualize instruction for students.

How can I set my child up for success?

Our teachers encourage parents/guardians to talk to their child about doing their best.
Parents with a kindergarten child can practice upper case and lower case letters for speed and accuracy at home. Followed up by sounding out simple 2 and 3 letter words later in the school year.
Parents with students in grades 1-8 can encourage reading at home.

Frassati’s commitment to literacy extends to every student, at every level. In addition to Believe and Read (Groves Method) whole class and small group instruction, we are proud to offer robust Wilson tutoring. Wilson meets the needs of students with dyslexia or related learning challenges with private 1-to-1 reading tutoring as part of the school schedule.

Wilson tutoring is offered through our partnership with the local organization, Reading Rays. Reading Rays tutors are certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioners with specialized expertise and experience. Reading Rays Wilson tuition is supplemental to school tuition, with partial scholarship assistance available through the school.

The Wilson program is proven to be effective with students in Grades 2 and up who are significantly challenged in reading. Following the Orton-Gillingham methodology, Wilson tutoring provides structured literacy instruction at the student’s own pace. When students are diagnosed with dyslexia or have tried other interventions and still struggle, Reading Rays Wilson tutoring can be their path to success.

With Wilson available at Frassati, students are able to receive private tutoring right at school, rather than being bused to an outside program or having to do after-school tutoring. They can focus on literacy during the day, when they are fresh. And after school, they can participate in sports and other activities with their peers. Reading Rays Wilson tutoring assures that all of our Frassati students get what they need to succeed right here at school.

Frassati Catholic Academy has established a robust intervention program designed to assist students identified as needing extra support in reading. This program facilitates small group settings where teachers can tailor reading instruction and closely track each student’s progress. In these intimate groups, students benefit from an environment that encourages them to share their knowledge and receive valuable feedback. These interventions will be carefully designed, fully implemented, and closely monitored to ensure that all students reach their highest potential.

In collaboration with classroom teachers, your child will participate in small group instruction four days a week, lasting 20 to 30 minutes each session. This instruction is grounded in the science of reading and utilizes high-quality instructional materials.

This approach enables lessons to be broken down into manageable components, allowing students to focus on areas they are still mastering. The instruction specifically targets phonics, fluency, and the mastery of literacy concepts taught through the Groves Literacy Method (Believe and Read). Working with students in small groups or on an individual basis allows us to address their specific needs, build their confidence, and enhance their skills for mastery.

Having core knowledge of:

Basic math facts (+, -, x, ÷)
Number sense foundations
Problem solving skills

We are so glad Frassati has the Learning Lab available. Our son has benefited from the teachers in this area being encouraging, patient and dedicated to their success. It helped give our son extra time and practice to build on the phonics basics which helped give him confidence in reading. We are thankful to you!

Nick and Kate G

The Learning Lab provided a nurturing environment where our child received personalized attention and support. The dedicated teachers took the time to understand their learning style and worked hard to meet their needs. This individualized attention made a big difference, allowing our child to grow in confidence. This translated into an improved learning/teaching experience at home, where we could continue to work towards our goals outside of school. As a result, the improvement in our child’s reading skills has been remarkable.

As parents, we are grateful to the Learning Lab for their dedication and expertise. The skills and confidence our child has gained will serve them well throughout their academic career and beyond.

Anonymous

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Learning Lab Instructional Activities

Learning Lab FAQs

Aimsweb FAQs

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