Learning Specialist Team
What is the Learning Specialist Team (LST)?
The Learning Specialist Team has a multi-faceted mission. Specialized teachers provide a setting where academic performance, across the continuum of achievement from gifted students to those needing additional assistance, is assisted and enriched. Our goal is to enable all students to reach their full potential.
LST instruction takes place in several formats:
- one-on-one intensive sessions utilizing specific intervention strategies (Lindamood-Bell®, Wilson Reading and System®, etc.)
- classroom setting small group work, concept acquisition support, and extension
On-Campus Speech & Language Therapists:
The LST also coordinates services that are recommended by local physicians and psychologists, which include a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist.
Testing:
Additionally, the LST administers all admissions testing and coordinates the standardized testing for grades 1-6 and readiness screenings in Pre-K II and Kindergarten. The data gathered from tests and screenings is analyzed and used to develop and implement appropriate curriculum enhancements and instruction to address student needs.
After-School Tutoring:
Tutoring also falls under the umbrella of the LST. Requests for a tutor should be made through the LST office by calling 388-6479. Tutoring sessions will be scheduled by the parent and the tutor.
“St Mark’s commitment to having their teachers trained in the Lindamood-Bell® processes has helped my children and many other students at our school. I cannot stress enough how appreciative my husband and I am for having this program available in our school.”- A current St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School Parent
Examples of Programs used in the LST:
Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® and LiPS® –This program is used with younger students who experience difficulty in judging sounds within words. We call this weak phonemic awareness. In addition to knowing letter names and their corresponding sounds, the LiPS® program draws attentions to how sounds feel in one’s mouth. This extra component helps students to better isolate sounds in words and apply this skill to both reading and spelling.
Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing®, V/V® – This program is directed towards students who read accurately, but have difficulty holding on to the information they have read. The V/V® program helps students construct a Gestalt, or whole image, of the text. Stronger concept imagery results in improved language comprehension, critical thinking, and expressive language skills.
Wilson Reading System – This program is used with students in 3rd – 6th grades to improve reading and spelling skills. Wilson is an interactive, multi-sensory approach to total word construction. It directly teaches word structure, not just phonics. Students learn to encode (spell) while improving their decoding (reading). Skills are reinforced through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile activities. Wilson can also be used for spelling instruction alone.
St. Mark’s is NOT Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes nor is it affiliated with, certified, endorsed, licensed, monitored or sponsored by Lindamood-Bell, Nanci Bell, Phyllis Lindamood or Pat Lindamood. Lindamood-Bell – an international organization creating and implementing unique instructional methods and programs for quality intervention to advance language and literacy skills – in no way endorses or monitors the services provided by St. Mark’s.
