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Saint Mary's College High School

Lasallian Catholic Education Since 1863


Instructional Methods: Addressing Students’ Learning Styles

While Saint Mary’s does not have a designated program that supports students with learning disabilities/differences, our ongoing professional development seeks to expand all teachers’ repertoires of instructional and assessment methods so that the wide variety of learning styles every classroom presents can be addressed. Students with identified learning disabilities are encouraged to alert the school of these facts through their Guidance Counselor. Through joint efforts of our teachers and guidance counselors, Saint Mary’s seeks to identify for students with documented learning differences the effective strategies by which all students can meet the course standards. Two common classroom accommodations, for example, are preferential seating (e.g., seating in the front of the classroom), and providing extended time on tests and exams. Other accommodations are adopted as is appropriate. Students are taught, encouraged, and ultimately expected to become active advocates of their own learning, and Saint Mary’s teachers are continually working to expand their understanding of the variety of entry points by which their students come to class.

While Saint Mary’s will do what it can to support students whose learning profile may impede optimal learning, its resources are limited. Students and their parents are urged to locate programs of academic support to ensure academic success at Saint Mary’s. Guidance counselors will meet with students to check on their progress in the spring of each year and will communicate with teachers should they become aware of neuron-developmental or physical obstacles to student learning. Our guidance counselors are not trained in Special Education, however, and are not qualified to diagnose student learning disabilities. To be eligible for special accommodations, families must submit valid and current documentation. Students whose learning disabilities are identified and diagnosed during their enrollment at Saint Mary’s College High School must submit the required documentation as soon as possible so that the school can institute steps for effective educational support. Referral information for testing and outside resources is available upon request from the Director of Student Support Services.