Student Support Services

The role of the Learning Specialist in each division is to support the teachers in helping them to serve all students, particularly those who might have difficulty in class for a variety of reasons. An important part of the support is helping teachers understand the nature of learning differences. In addition to directly working with students, the Learning Specialist is often are involved in teacher consultation, parent meetings, and coordination with community professionals.

Lower School Learning Resources

Resource Center 

The Resource Center provides support to students, teachers and families in grades PS-5. Two full-time Reading and Learning Specialists offer support in language arts instruction through small groups, one-on-one, and classroom inclusion. This support could be offered in the form of enrichment and/or remediation. The Resource Center houses a categorized library for student check-out as well as professional readings to enhance teacher knowledge in a variety of subjects. Teachers have access to an array of tools and materials to assist with diverse learning styles. The Resource Center also provides parent education resources to help families better understand their child’s learning profile.

• Two full-time Reading and Learning Specialists
• Differentiated instruction
• Resource Center with categorized library
• Small group, one-on-one, team teaching, inclusion in the classroom
• Enrichment/remediation support in language arts
• Professional development
• Parent education

Tutoring 
Tutoring is available before, during, and after school on our campus. This fee-based service is coordinated through our Reading and Learning Specialists. GDS tutors have academic credentials in a variety of subjects including reading, math, written language, and study skills. Individual curriculum instruction is available on a case-by-case basis for students who are struggling to meet the demands in a given subject area, but who demonstrate grade level competence in other subject areas.

After-School Study Hall
An after-school study hall is offered for students who need or want additional support when completing assignments. This is a fee-based service offered Monday –Thursday and families may set their own flexible schedule. The study hall teacher supervises a quiet work environment and is available to assist students with time management and general organization. This program is offered for students in grades 4-8.

Math Specialists
The Lower School has two math specialists who provide support to students, teachers and families in grades K-5. They provide support in math instruction through small groups, one-on-one, and classroom inclusion. This support could be offered in the form of enrichment and/or remediation. The math specialists have a wide variety of math resources, professional readings, and their own professional expertise to enhance teacher knowledge and the classroom environment, as well as assist with differentiated instruction and support diverse learning styles. The math specialists also provide parent education opportunities through math talks, game days, and available resources to support families in better understanding the math curriculum and in how to help their children be successful.

• Two math specialists
• Differentiated instruction
• Small group, one-on-one, team teaching, whole class
• Enrichment/remediation in math
• Professional development
• Parent education

Please contact a Lower School Learning Specialist for more information.

Middle School Learning Resources

Study Skills course 
Study Skills is an annual course that is offered for students who benefit from academic support beyond the help of their classroom teachers. Upon the recommendation of the Learning Specialist and Division Director, students with documented learning differences and/or recommendations from their teachers may replace their Middle School foreign language requirement with the Study Skills course. During this course, students analyze their own learning styles in order to understand how this impacts their academic success. They learn techniques to capitalize on strengths and offset weaknesses. Specific skills taught include; time-management, listening skills, organization, homework completion, reading comprehension, writing process, note-taking, and test-taking strategies.

Tutoring/Academic Coaching
Tutoring is available before, during, and after school on our campus. This fee-based service is coordinated through our Learning Specialists. Another option is Academic Coaching, which provides students with “coaching” in all areas that support effective learning: time-management, organization, homework completion, reading comprehension, test-taking strategies, and more. Individual curriculum instruction is available on a case-by-case basis for students who are struggling to meet the demands in a given subject area, but who demonstrate grade level competence in other subject areas.

After-School Study Program 
An after-school study hall is offered for students who need or want additional support when completing assignments. This is a fee-based service offered Monday – Thursday, and families may set their own flexible schedule. The study hall teacher supervises a quiet work environment and is available to assist students with time management and general organization. This program is offered for students in grades 4-8.

Please CONTACT a Middle School Learning Specialist for more information.

Upper School Learning Resources

Study Skills course 
Study skills is taught by the Learning Specialist to all 9th graders. The study skills class meets approximately 10 times during the Fall class (students also meet additional times on other topics, such as guidance and technology). The Study Skills class covers topics such as learning styles, goal setting, time management, reading strategies, taking notes, and test preparation.

Tutoring/Academic Coaching
Tutoring for specific subjects is provided both by GDS tutors and community practitioners and can be coordinated through our learning specialists. Another option is Academic Coaching. It provides students with “coaching” in all areas that support effective learning: time-management, organization, homework completion, reading comprehension, test-taking strategies, and more.

Writing Center 
The Upper School Writing Center focuses on helping all students at all stages of the writing process. Students who are teacher- or self-referred can expect to receive help and instruction in the following areas: brainstorming and developing ideas, drafting, outlining and organizing, revising, and editing. Students may receive help on papers in all subject areas.

Math Help 
Mathelp is available to students who have been referred by a teacher or by student choice. It is available twice per week (during study hall) for students to receive additional help with any of the concepts covered in math class. Mathelp is run by faculty with expertise in all Upper School math course offerings.

Please CONTACT the Upper School Learning Specialist for more information.

The primary goal of the GDS Counseling Department is to provide programming and support for students that assist them in developing empathy, ethical problem solving skills, self-insight, strength of character and strong interpersonal / social skills. Each of the three divisions has a counselor and these counselors often work collaboratively with one another providing individual, group and classroom guidance lessons. The Counseling Department is also a resource to faculty, parents and administration. Short term assistance is provided with appropriate referrals to professionals in the community if needed.

The Student Support Services program is designed to provide support to all children who are admitted to Greensboro Day School. Although traditionally families have thought of support as solely focused on the student with learning challenges, the Student Support Services’ vision wants families to recognize that almost all students need support - some for learning difficulties, some for advancement, and some at both ends of the continuum. Enrichment opportunities are provided for students in all 3 divisions. A sample of enrichment opportunities is listed below. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

Lower School

Mathematics enrichment groups in grades 1-3 meet with the K-3 mathematics specialist on a weekly basis. These sessions focus on activities which deepen and broaden their mathematical understanding and provide "stretching" experiences for these children who easily grasp mathematical concepts and exhibit high quality performance on classroom mathematics activities.

In grades 4 and 5, a fourth math class of particularly talented mathematics students is taught by the grades 4-6 mathematics specialist. Children are chosen for this class based on a battery of qualifiers including past performance, several tests, and teacher recommendations. The class covers all regular topics, enriches the curriculum with many problem solving activities, and provides the opportunity for these students to explore and discuss mathematics in greater depth than the regular classroom affords.

Qualified students can also participate in math enrichment through the academic team, Math League.

Reading enrichment groups begin in grade one. In grades 1-3, students are chosen for participation based on teacher nominations. In grades 4-5, students qualify for participation based on teacher recommendations, standardized tests, and grades. Enrichment book groups meet once per week. A focused discussion occurs surrounding a book that is one to three years above grade level.

Middle School

In the Middle School, enrichment opportunities are provided through a variety of extracurricular activities. Some examples include: Envirothon, Geography Bee, MathCounts, and Junior Classical League. Interdisciplinary programs include Model UN, Student Diversity Conferences, Piedmont Young Writers’ Conference, and Battle of the Books. Academic Leadership opportunities include Optimist and Soil and Water Oratorical Contests, Chess Club, Middle School Newspaper, OASES (Outdoor Academy Student Environmental Summit,)and Service Learning Club. In addition, students who are advanced in math can choose an advanced math sequence. Furthermore, opportunities for development of student leadership include: Student Council, Student Drama Director and Stage Management.

Upper School

In the Upper School, enrichment opportunities are provided through Advanced and AP course offerings. The English department has expanded its AP offerings to a small group of 10th graders who in past years would not have been eligible for AP courses until 11th grade. For a full description of Advanced and AP courses, please consult the Upper School Program of Studies booklet.

Similar to the Middle School, academic teams, such as Envirothon, Model UN, and High IQ are offered.

The English as a Second Language Program (ESL) provides support to International Students in grades K-12 who have limited English proficiency. The ESL coordinator is available to meet individually with international students in all three divisions of the school. In addition, the ESL coordinator conducts small group instruction with Upper School students, and is available for consultation with teachers in all three divisions.

In addition to the numerous benefits of the ESL program for International Students, the ESL program benefits all students at GDS through the promotion of cultural diversity. International students enrich the educational experience through differing points of view. International students are involved in formal presentations, classroom discussions, and extracurricular activities.

For more information about the ESL program, please contact Don Lahey at donlahey@greensboroday.org.

For Faculty:

Each faculty member at Greensboro Day School participates in yearly professional development programs. Under the Student Support Services umbrella, faculty members are encouraged to pursue continuing education in the areas of learning styles and best practices for all developmental levels. In recent years, GDS has emphasized learning resources professional development in conjunction with Differentiated Instruction. Differentiated Instruction is a teacher’s proactive response to students’ needs. We believe that every student can learn and should be engaged, challenged, and successful. We have a broad range of learners at GDS, so we need to operate classrooms so that students have multiple options for taking in information, making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn. Differentiated instruction allows teachers to respond to varying readiness levels, learning preferences, and interests as well as allow variation for content, process and product.

Finally, faculty members engage in training in several other areas including: developmental readiness and how the brain is wired, learning differences, attention disorders, best 21st century learning practices, and project based learning.

For Parents:

There are several opportunities throughout the school year for parents to participate in engaging discussions and informative presentations by community professionals and Greensboro Day School faculty. Some examples include: book clubs with our counselors, presentations by occupational therapists and local psychologists, and discussions on important topics led by our faculty.