The 2011-2012 school year marks the beginning of the 20th year of the Learning Enhancement Program at Lipscomb. After listening to concerned parents and their children, the administration of the Campus School decided to begin this program as a way to help our students “master skills appropriate to them,” which is part of the DLCS mission statement. The Learning Enhancement Program expanded into the middle and high school after launching the elementary program in its first year. The program continues to work to provide individualized instruction to those students who need extra instruction beyond the classroom.
The Learning Enhancement Program has worked hard the last several years to purchase screening instruments to help identify learning problems. A mixture of formal and informal measures is used to screen attention deficit, reading difficulties, and other academic areas. Screening services are designed to indicate whether or not further evaluation is needed. They do not provide a diagnosis, only surface problematic areas so that further recommendations or evaluations can be made. This method of “screening” is helpful to teachers while making decisions about the referral process for testing.Brenda Forehand and Dani Waites are involved in the screening process at the middle and high school. LEP also offers Speech and Language testing and intervention as well through Marianne Sperry and Associates.
The Learning Enhancement Program provides tutoring services to many children at the Campus School. The screening program, Speech and Language services, ACT Prep, and the Elementary summer tune up camps are just some of the ways that LEP works to service the needs of the children at Lipscomb.
As Coordinator of LEP K-12, Dani Waites leads the program and acts as liaison between the Learning Enhancement Program and the Administration.
ELEMENTARY
- Elementary LEP offers tutoring in all subjects.
- In the early grades, the focus is on the emerging learner - learning how to ready, learning numbers, and numbers sense.
- Third and fourth grade tutoring is mainly classroom support, organization and study skills. Sessions are held during the school day and after school.
- LEP tutors are supplied with a copy of each teacher's lesson plans for the week to assist in planning how to best help the student.
- LEP also offers enrichment tutoring for those students who like to be challenged to think "outside the box."
- Marlene Butler serves as coordinator of the elementary LEP. Mrs. Butler has over thirty years of teaching experience. Belinda Brownlee, Leigh Ellenburg, and Sharon Nikolaus join her in providing LEP services at DLES. All of these women are former classroom teachers.
- The LEP classroom is located just outside the end of "second-grade hall" on the south end of the main elementary building.
- LEP believes that all children are gifted and learning styles are unique to each other. The job of LEP is to unlock the potential in each child!
- Do you have questions that the experienced LEP staff can help you with? If so, "Ask Mrs. Marlene."
- Elementary LEP can be reached at 966-6319.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Middle School LEP offers tutoring primarily in math and English. Students are assigned tutors that have expertise in that area of study.
- LEP provides services for a wide range of students. Not only does the Learning Enhancement Program help the student with specific learning problems, but also provides help for the honor student.
- Students who have missed several days of school because of an illness can come to LEP for make-up work.
- The LEP staff frequently communicates with classroom teachers to get grades and classroom performance reports. Progress report are sent home every third and sixth week to the parents to keep them updated as to their child's performance.
- The majority of the middle school tutoring is done in room 113 of Harding Hall.
- Brenda Forehand is the co-ordinator of the middle school LEP program. Mrs. Forehand is a certified teacher, as are the majority of the tutors who work in the Learning Enhancement Program. Lipscomb University students comprise the remaining staff. For more information call Mrs. Forehand at 966-6402.
HIGH SCHOOL
- The High School Learning Enhancement Program offers tutoring primarily in English, math, sciences, and foreign language.
- Students are assigned tutors that have expertise in that area of study.
- LEP provides services for a wide range of students. Not only does the Learning Enhancement Program help the student with specific learning differences, but also provides help for the honors student. Along with the individual subjects that are tutored, study skills and ACT preparation are offered.
- The Learning Enhancement Staff frequently communicates with the classroom teacher to get grades and classroom performance reports. Tutoring plans and progress reports are sent home for each child.
- Another LEP service is the pullout program. Only students who have been accepted to the campus school and later found to have a comprehensive disability in one area that needs extensive modifications are eligible for this program. These students have the option of being taught in that subject by a certified teacher using a modified curriculum. The LEP teacher determines the grade in this subject. This grade is explained in the cumulative folder as being a special class.
- The program is available to students that have been recommended by the Student Support Team, including Dani Waites and Lisa Bruce.
- The largest part of the high school tutoring is done in the Mayfair House located right across the street from the high school office.
- The majority of the tutors who work in the Learning Enhancement Program are certified teachers. Lipscomb University students comprise the remaining staff.
- High School LEP can be reached at 966-6469.
