How We Teach Our Students

The Highlands School teaches the whole child. Because our students are with us for a short time – an average of two to three years – we focus not just on remediating skill deficits at each individual learner’s pace, but on helping them discover what type of learner they are and how they learn best. We teach our students the skills and strategies needed to become successful, independent learners who are well-equipped to advocate for themselves once they transition back to a traditional school setting.

The life-long skills learned during their short stay at The Highlands School are a direct result of our organized, structured, sequential and multisensory approach to learning. A significant portion of all learning is accomplished through language. Language development takes place in every subject and we believe every aspect of the school day offers an opportunity to foster language development. All senses are used whenever possible in order for the child to acquire, learn and remember information. The simultaneous integration of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile modalities is commonly used throughout the day in all subjects including Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Health and Fitness, Art and Music.

Speakers and field trips are also incorporated throughout the year to enrich and reinforce concepts learned. Experiences gained through field trips to the Science Center, Washington, D.C., other enrichment activities, as well as weekly clubs that are student-interest driven, allow students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and build additional background experience needed for continued academic and social growth.

Every experience at The Highlands School helps form the strong foundation needed and serves as the roots our students need to spread their wings. Students who are ready to transition back to a traditional school setting have learned how they learn best. They are aware of their strengths and their weaknesses. They capitalize on their strengths and know how to apply the skills and strategies learned at The Highlands School to compensate for their weaknesses. They’ve learned social skills as well as organizational and study skills, which enable them to acquire knowledge regardless of the curriculum and setting. They are responsible and better able to advocate for their individual learning needs. They are ready to soar!!

A child who learns differently needs to be taught differently.