As a former Learning Specialist at a local community college, I was dismayed to see so many freshmen with learning disabilities struggle. This occurs because they arrive sorely unprepared for the challenges that await them, and once enrolled, they inadvertently make decisions that lead to their downfall.
As the only Learning Specialist (part-time, at that) for over 14,000 students, you can well imagine I couldn’t rescue many. I watched helplessly as student after student fell through the cracks.
Having a son with a learning disability who graduated college successfully, I thought…. there HAS to be a better way.. This prompted me to write a course for high school students (and their parents) that would PROACTIVELY set them up for college success. It is 10 sessions long (1 hr per session) on Saturday mornings, and it runs the gamut of what to do now while in high school all the way through to achieving metacognition (learning how to learn) and college success.
I taught the course for the first time to 11th and 12th graders and their parents this semester, and the feedback was outstanding. All thought it was highly valuable, and many called it a “must-take” course. How rewarding it was to reach students [i]before[/i]they enter college and possibly prevent the frustration and overwhelming feelings that often occur.
Feedback also told me that I should accept 9th and 10th graders into the course - that the sooner students get this information, the sooner they can act on it. I think that’s good advice.
I am in the Philadelphia area and will be teaching the course again starting September 20, running 10 weeks. By the time the course is over, you will have a portfolio of information to take you seamlessly through the post-secondary transition process.
If you are interested in taking “Conquer College with LD” and are in high school, please get in touch with me and reserve a space. My e-mail is [email protected] and my phone number is (215) 620-2112.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the [i]high schools[/i] actually taught this?
Joan
I wish we had people like you in England! I have a 16 year old with dyslexia/dyscalculia and low self esteem staring college in September and we as parents are very worried how she will surive. She is not capable of staying on at secondary school as they will be doing ‘A’ levels only there!