VIRGINIA CENTER FOR LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT LLC Kings Highway King George, VA (540)

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1 VIRGINIA CENTER FOR LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT LLC Kings Highway King George, VA (540) IGNITE. EXPLORE. EMPOWER. ACHIEVE. VISION: TO IGNITE IN OUR STUDENTS A PASSION FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING MISSION: TO EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE BEYOND THEIR DREAMS Academic Tutoring (K-12+) VCLA prides itself in providing a warm, friendly learning environment where students are successful. To foster that success, the director conducts informal assessments of students' reading, writing, and math skills. The results of those assessments determine the students' instructional levels and indicate the skills they do not comprehend. To design the appropriate curriculum, the director reviews the student s current grades, benchmark and SOL testing results, and psycho-educational testing and educational plans, if any. The director then will meet with the parent and the student to establish goals and a tutoring schedule. VCLA provides weekly progress reports. After the student has completed the designated program, the team will meet again to discuss the student s progress and decide the next steps, which may include teaching parents research-based strategies to continue at home and suggestions for the student s teachers to implement at school. If a parent decides to continue the tutoring arrangements, we will be happy to work with the family for as long as the student needs our help. The initial program is 10 hours. Each additional 10-hour block will be charged at a reduced rate. The director provides instruction for all subjects except high school science and high school math beyond geometry. She hires state-licensed teachers to tutor those subjects. Intensive Reading Instruction is available for students at risk of reading failure. VCLA has implemented a research-based program that focuses on eight critical components of reading instruction. Because reading and writing are inextricable, the instruction includes a strong writing component. To be effective, typical instruction is provided for 30 or 60 minutes (depending upon the age of the student), two to three times a week for at least four to six months.

2 Workshops (K-12+) The Success at Every Step workshops empower students to take charge of their learning. They help students discover their strengths and encourage them to pursue their passions. The programs teach students to be strategic with their thinking and help them appreciate life-long learning! Most importantly, the workshops help students develop the soft skills they need to be successful in the classroom and in the workplace. The Happy Kids Study Skills workshops are designed for students in grades K-4 and teach seven important lessons: problem solving, having a plan, work comes before play, everyone can win, listen before speaking, together is better, and balance is best. The program is based on the Franklin-Covey 7 Habits series. Seven weekly 90-minute sessions; maximum four students per group: grades K-2 and grades 3-4. Book and materials included. The S.O.A.R. Study Skills workshops are designed for students in grades This accredited, research-based curriculum helps students earn better grades with less study time! Students develop efficient, effective study skill strategies that apply across content areas. Topics covered: time and task-management; organizing at home and school; goalsetting; note-taking strategies; test-taking strategies; homework/project planning; communication skills; reading skills; and writing strategies. Five weeks, two 90-minute sessions weekly; maximum 5 students per age group: grades 5-6; grades 7-8, grades 9-12; and college. All supplies are included! Study skills workshops are scheduled when at least two students express interest. Register two students at the same time for the same session and each will receive a 10% discount! The Essay Writing Seminar teaches students in grades 7+ how to write well-developed, organized five+ paragraph essays. Students learn how to write a thesis statement, develop supporting paragraphs, summarize their research in their own words, edit their work, and cite their sources using the MLA format. Each student will write an essay about a prospective career. The students will score their essays using rubrics, participate in peer conferences, and meet with the seminar leader. Students are encouraged to bring their personal laptops and connect to VCLA s student Wi Fi network. The seminars are held one Saturday most months from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is provided. Students should bring a sample of their writing. Space is limited. Please pre-register. VCLA is working on a line-up of free Parent Workshops for the school year. Do you have a specific topic idea? Let's talk! Contact Carolyn Berry at (540)

3 Educational Consulting and Coaching VCLA strives to improve the educational performance of all students, including those with disabilities. To help students experience success, we consult with and coach parents, guardians and teachers. Families: We encourage parents/guardians to be active participants in their children s education. We help families navigate the educational system by helping them understand their rights (and their children s rights) and responsibilities regarding school law. We explain what's involved in the Child Study/IEP/504 process, and we explain how to interpret the results of evaluations and assessments. We teach effective self-advocacy skills, and we provide a lending library of education- and disability-related books and periodicals. If a family and school personnel disagree as to the details of an IEP (or the results of a Child Study/Eligibility/Manifestation Determination Review), we can facilitate the IEP meeting. Our sole focus is the student and implementing an educational program that meets that particular student's educational needs. We begin by understanding the student's disability and its impact on the child's education. We review the student's school records, including current grades, current classroom performance, and all assessments. We clarify the positions of the family and the school district and ensure that both are clear about the student's educational needs and the balance with school law. We urge those involved to explore all possible educational options and work diligently to reach consensus. We encourage effective communication between families and school personnel, and we promote alternative means of dispute resolution, including mediation. Teachers: VCLA works toward helping new and experienced teachers increase their classroom skills. We help teachers navigate collaborative settings, differentiate instruction, implement research-based teaching strategies, and understand how to use data to drive instruction. We observe teachers for coaching purposes only. Special Education Case Managers: VCLA works with case managers to write data-rich, standards-based IEPs, assess students and draft post-secondary transition plans, teach students effective selfadvocacy skills, and prepare students to lead their IEP meetings. VCLA also is available to organize transition fairs and parent workshops.

4 Private Day School VCLA has applied to the Virginia Department of Education to become licensed as a Private Day School to provide services to students with disabilities who have been suspended from school or who have not been successful in a public school setting. When licensed, the school will serve students who attend King George High School, Caroline County High School, Colonial Beach High School, Essex County High School, and Washington and Lee High School. Carolyn Berry, Director Carolyn Berry is licensed as a general education teacher (English, Journalism, History, and Social Studies) and as a special education teacher (K-12 Learning Disabilities and Intellectual Disabilities). She has worked for Mathews County Public Schools, the Northern Neck Regional Special Education Program, and, most recently, for King George County Schools as the department chair for special education at King George High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Journalism from Virginia Wesleyan College and a Master of Education from Old Dominion University. She attended the Virginia Department of Education Special Education Leaders Academy and has taken classes to be licensed in administration and supervision from George Mason University. In addition, she has received training to be an instructional coach and has a particular interest in helping high school students transition to post-secondary education and careers by coaching them to become proficient in the skills they need to be successful in the classroom and in the workplace. Before becoming a teacher, Carolyn worked in marketing and public relations for health care organizations. After many years, she changed directions and devoted her professional life to writing and editing. She wrote about everything from commercial real estate and economic development to community leaders and medical breakthroughs. She reveled in helping people tell their life stories and helping corporations celebrate their successes through written corporate histories. For a decade she edited a magazine about residential construction. Carolyn is married and lives in Essex County. She has three adult children and two adorable grandsons! Her passions include her family, horses, reading, writing, sewing, and, of course, teaching. She is a self-starter and a strategic thinker. She likes to empower those around her to achieve goals beyond their dreams. FACEBOOK: BLOG: LINKEDIN:

5 VCLA accepts credit cards: Discover, Master Card and VISA Schedule of Workshops Happy Kids Study Skills: 7 weekly 90-minute sessions; maximum 5 students per age group (Grades K-2): Tuesday, October 29, 2013, to December 10, 2013; 5-6:30 p.m. (Grades 3-4): Thursday, October 3, 2013, to November 28, 2013; 5-6:30 p.m. NOTE: Class will not meet Thursdays, October 17 or November 21. S.O.A.R. Study Skills: 5 weeks, two 90-minute sessions; maximum 5 students per age group (Grades 5-6): Tuesday and Thursday January 6, 2014, to February 6, 2014; 4:30-6 p.m. (Grades 7-8): Monday and Thursday October 28, 2013, to December 2, 2013; 7-8:30 p.m. NOTE: Class will not meet Thursday November 21 (Grades 9-12): Tuesday and Thursday January 6, 2014, to February 6, 2014; 6:30-8 p.m. Essay Writing Seminar: (Students may bring their laptops or tablets and connect wirelessly to the VCLA's network) Maximum 4 students per session Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lunch provided) November 16, 2013; January 11, 2014; March 15, 2014; and May 3, 2014 Intensive Reading Intervention: 1:1, mutually agreed upon times Tutoring: 1:1, mutually agreed upon times