Student Support Services

Learning Support Program

The learning support model at AISD is based on the philosophy that all students have unique abilities, learning styles and interests. These differences are valued, as they add to the richness and diversity of our school. Learners respond best to developmentally appropriate programs designed to develop their strengths and provide for their individual needs through differentiated instruction. Accommodations, both in the ways educators instruct and assess, are required in order for students with additional needs to learn and succeed.

The goal for all students is to meet or surpass grade level standards in the AISD curriculum. In order to reach these goals, students must engage in positive learning experiences that promote both academic growth and selfesteem.

Learning support instruction is most effective when employed in the classroom in collaboration with classroom teachers, understanding that early intervention is critical for optimal learning. While the primary focus of learning support teachers is to provide direct services to students identified with additional support needs, they also assist classroom teachers by sharing their knowledge and expertise. Through this sharing, a partnership is built with teachers in promoting evidence-based best practice in the classroom. To this end, inclusion, co-teaching and collaboration models are fundamental to our learning support delivery. In addition to differentiated lesson planning, classroom and learning support teachers work together to develop and implement individualized learning strategies for identified students. Withdrawing students for individualized instruction outside the classroom is supplemental and used to assist identified students in developing specific skills required to meet classroom standards.

Within the guidelines of confidentiality, all educators communicate with one another, parents and supplementary support services outside the school, as communication is key to collaboration.

Source: AISD Student Support Services Handbook

The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program

Our EAL Program promotes curricular integration and student engagement. We hold ourselves accountable for differentiating instruction and co-teaching with colleagues to best address each child’s learning style and language needs.

The EAL program is designed to provide academic and social language support for non-native speakers of English in grades one through twelve. The primary purpose of the program is to ensure that all students become proficient in English and achieve academic success. Therefore, language skills and strategies are integrated with content area and subject matter whenever possible.

The EAL program addresses individualized needs and learning styles through one-on-one, small group instruction, in-class (also called push-in) support, and consultation with the mainstream teacher. The second purpose of the program is to promote multilingualism and cultural pluralism. Based on the latest research regarding language and cognitive development, children should be encouraged to maintain and develop their mother tongues. The diverse linguistic and rich cultural backgrounds brought to our school by the non-native English speakers enrich the learning opportunities for all students.