Academic Support

Note taking skills are taught in elementary school and in middle school. It is helpful to know a variety of note taking structures so that students can choose what works best for them and for the subject.

Some supporting material on note taking methods and developing note taking skills:

• Note Taking Systems, an 8-page PDF handout from Rutgers Learning Center that touches upon Cornell, outline, mapping, charting, and sentence methods, as well as the SQR3 method for reviewing reading material.
• Notetaking & Reading, a LibGuide from CU Boulder Libraries
• Taking Effective Notes, a mini-site from Austin Community College District

Organizational skills are taught to every sixth grader through their core classes and their Advise class.

The Study Skills class is for students who need significant support in one or more of the following areas: reading improvement skills, listening and note-taking skills, test-taking skills, organization skills, logical thinking and writing. This class replaces one of the student's electives.

Some supporting material on developing organizational skills:

• 7 Ways to Teach Your Middle-Schooler Organization Skills from understood.org
• Keep Your Middle Schooler Organized, a post from the Psychology Today blog Thinking About Kids
• Organizational Tools (scroll down to Resources & Support) from PBIS World

We have several licensed staff members that work in student support: our counselors, a social worker, and a social-emotional learning specialist.

Our counseling team, works with students to support social-emotional growth, academics, and planning for college and career readiness. If your student is struggling, it is recommended to start by contacting your student's counselor. They can help you to find the correct solution for your student.

Our social-emotional learning specialist, works with all students and teachers in our building around social and emotional learning competencies: Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Self Management, Responsible Decision-Making, and Relationship Skills. In this role, students are taugh lessons about the social/emotional competencies, works with small groups, provides professional development for staff, and supports the entire school in understanding the needs of students.