Academics
Brighton’s Approach to Teaching
Students with Learning Differences
Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning
Brighton students engage in learning experiences that integrate the senses. Visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile interactions create multiple pathways for learning. Hands on, multisensory techniques are incorporated into every aspect of daily instruction. This creates powerful learning experiences far superior to a typical classroom environment.
Navigating ADHD
The majority of Brighton students have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. It has been shown that physical exercise and movement is one of the best mitigation strategies for refocusing students’ attention in the classroom. All elementary and middle school students have a daily PE class. In addition, elementary students have two recess times daily. Flexible seating is available in all classrooms. Students may have the option to choose between standing desks, swivels desks, bouncy chairs, or wobble stools. Brain breaks are incorporated between learning activities to increase student engagement.
Highly Trained Faculty
Our educators are committed to understanding the needs of students who learn differently and are well prepared to nurture your child’s academic, social/emotional and executive function development. Our faculty and staff includes:
- Dual-certified teachers
- Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT)
- Certified Academic Language Practitioners (CALP)
- Instructors of Certified Academic Language Practitioners (iCALP)
- Qualified Instructors of Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT-QI)
Curriculum
No single curriculum meets the needs of all our students. We reference Louisiana State Standards and use a variety of resources and strategies to ensure student success. Our teachers are both flexible and creative in exploring unique multisensory learning experiences in the classroom.
Small Class Size
Maintaining small class size is critical for students with learning differences. Below are the maximum student to teacher ratios, however many of our class sizes are smaller. Reading and Math Therapy Groups are typically only 3-5 students. This enables our teachers to meet the needs of each child in the way they learn best.
- 6:1 - Kindergarten and 1st Grade
- 8:1 - Second Grade
- 10:1 - Third through Eighth Grade
- 12:1 - Ninth through Twelfth Grade
Therapeutic Services
All students engage in reading and language therapy class as well as math therapy class. These classes have even smaller group sizes than our general classes, allowing for more individualized attention. Students are grouped based on their unique strengths and areas for growth, receiving targeted instruction tailored to their needs. The structured and sequential approach used in teaching these classes equips students with the strategies and skills to become confident and capable readers, writers, and mathematicians.
Academic growth is a priority for our students.
Brighton’s academic experience is both fluid and flexible. Small class sizes allow us to group students based on skill and ability. We use dynamic instructional programs and strategies that engage students visually, auditorily, tactilely, and kinesthetically. We move our students as fast as we can, but as slow as they need. We meet each student at their current skill and ability level when they enter Brighton and encourage academic growth and success.
We are a school that is dedicated to students who have dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. We believe that ALL students can learn. It’s a matter of how the instruction is given and the support that is available to push students to their potential.