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Continuing our interview with Susan Maher of Regents Academy of Austin, we get a look at how she helps students perform well.  She finds their brilliance. She helps them overcome their weakness. She partners with the teachers to give minimal accommodations — and no modifications. Thus, these students, even with diagnoses, keep up with their peers at a prestigious, even perhaps exclusive school.

Mrs. Maher’s students learn how to take notes, write papers, read a textbook, or study for mathematics in just a more detailed way than others. Any parent or educator will want to hear what Susan Maher, Regent Academy of Austin, has to say.

STUDY SKILLS, ACCOMMODATIONS AND NOT MODIFICATIONS

“Accommodation not modification” is Mrs. Maher’s mantra. She means that minor changes in the school, like time or quiet are acceptable because that is like real life. Beyond that, she teaches more detailed study skills to the students so they can overcome their weaknesses. This is unlike public school where modficiations are made to a curriculum already aimed very very low. Thus, the student leaves with neither skill nor knowledge. That would be an unacceptable outcome at this well-thought of private school

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Let me know if you want more information on this. For now, please get my book on “study skills” that I wrote for my community college students, students who often had not been successful but now, as adults wanted to do well in college. I forged these ideas by teaching my child and grandchildren, overcoming their challenges.

How to Win the Game of School  by Sharon Sarles — really study skills for the game of learning as well as the game of making good grades