Overview

At Achievement Learning Center all programs are implemented through one-hour instructional sessions. Teachers work with students on their own tailor made learning plan and use a variety of teaching tools to best accommodate learning styles, interest and age. All instructional sessions begin with a warm-up activity that incorporates a component for stress management. "Stress Busters" helps students learn to relax, breathe and imagine their own potential.

Early Reading Program

At Achievement Learning Center, it is our goal to equip students with the necessary tools and motivation to become successful readers. Reading is the most important skill required for success in life – it really is fundamental. In our Early Reading Program, students are taught to read independently through the use of a systematic approach. In this approach, students are taught sounds and the importance of blending sounds into words. For phonics instruction to work, it needs to be systematic… it cannot start somewhere in the middle. Our program teaches letter knowledge and phonemic awareness, or an understanding that letters represent sounds, by techniques that are meaningful and interactive. The intent of instruction is to engage students in the kinds of activities that will prepare them for reading, thinking, and problem solving typical of real-world situations. Diverse and individual needs are met by varying the time and intensity of instruction, not by having students complete boring, pointless, repetitive skill sheets. Throughout the early reading program, young students have access to a variety of engaging activities that provide for differing proficiencies and abilities. Families are encouraged to participate through some of the "take-home" materials provided. As students progress through the program, they quickly develop their fluency through immediate participation in authentic reading and writing activities, bridging the gap between sounds and meaning. Learning to read empowers children. Learning to learn enables them to use that power intelligently and to take charge of their own learning process as soon as possible. At Achievement Learning Center, we are committed to improving confidence and motivation in all learners to help them achieve their truest potential.

Reading Comprehension Program

At Achievement Learning Center, it is our goal to equip students with the necessary tools and motivation to become successful readers. Reading is the most important skill required for success in life – it really is fundamental. In our Reading Comprehension Program, we focus on assisting students in strategically comprehending written information. The instructional design of each program is based on the specific needs of each learner. Great attention is given to helping students develop strategies for constructing meaning from print, as well as strategies that extend their understanding and enjoyment of reading. We strengthen students’ abilities in areas such as summarization, characterization, predicting events and techniques to improve their ability to think and respond at higher levels. Through engaging literacy experiences, all students are taught strategies for making the best use of the text they read. To support this goal, students work to improve their vocabulary by using words in context, making analogies, categorizing, defining synonyms and antonyms, and more. In understanding the complex nature of reading, it becomes evident that a student’s confidence and motivation are key components to achieving success in reading. At Achievement Learning Center, we are committed to helping students see that reading is a means to an end, not the end itself. When reading is seen and valued as a more significant experience, students learn to appreciate reading as significant in their own life - helping them achieve to their truest potential.

Writing Program

The Writing Program at Achievement Learning Center is designed to help students primarily understand the process and tools used for authorship. In this program, we focus on helping students think about the stages a writer goes through to clearly communicate a message. Students gain an understanding of how an author paints pictures of words and ideas in the reader’s mind. Understanding these processes helps students develop as authors themselves.

thus, students engage in compositions that are written to inform, persuade, entertain, and express themselves. State-of-the-art technology and computerized programs are an integral part of each student’s program. This integrated approach to learning motivates students to become more reflective in their writing. At Achievement Learning Center, we focus on the learner as a "whole" and therefore, concentrate our efforts on helping him/her apply specific skills to the broad scope of writing in a meaningful way. All students grades K-12 benefit from the techniques used in this program.

Mathematics

At Achievement Learning Center the mathematics curriculum is a highly interactive program that enables students to develop a solid foundation in the basic concepts and language of all areas of math including algebra, geometry, calculus and trigonometry. The curriculum is comprehensive and fully correlated to mastery standards, as well as state and nationally adopted textbooks. In order to successfully understand math concepts, we must build on prior learning, therefore it is essential to begin each students’ plan based on what the student knows. Weaker skills identified through the solid assessment at Achievement Learning Center are formulated into an individualized plan that incorporates many tools for optimum effect. Students use visual aids, manipulatives and hands-on materials to promote the visualization and formation of concepts. Computerized lessons provide a systematic and motivating avenue for practice, as well as on-going assessment for assigned skills. Students learn how to use common sense, mental math, calculators, as well as strategies to effectively solve problems and to check answers for reasonableness. Mathematics is about making numbers make sense – when students can work flexibly with numbers and reason with numerical information, they learn to appreciate mathematics as a tool for solving problems and interpreting events. Along with encouraging positive attitudes toward math, the goal of each individual student plan at Achievement Learning Center is to lead the learner from practice and procedures to making sense of and communicating about math.

Study Skills

The study skills program offered at Achievement Learning Center is designed for students in grades four through twelve.  Students are often told that they need to use their time more effectively, to take better notes in class, to do their homework, and to study better for tests.  However, they are not often told how to do these things.  The program at Achievement Learning Center is meant to teach an understanding of why study skills are important.

Through the information provided from the initial evaluation, a plan is developed around the learning style, preferences and habits of each student.  The ability to tap into the "whole student" is particularly important in the study skills program.  The program incorporates time management, organizational skills, and effective study habits.  Our goal is to teach students how to study smarter.  Additionally, we address note-taking and test-taking strategies, as well as a reading rate component to help students increase their reading skills.   Reference skills are developed and enhanced through the use of the Internet, and organizational techniques and learning strategies are a primary focus.

The study skills program includes classroom application where students can apply skills learned at Achievement Learning Center into their own classroom assignments.  Relating the learning process in a meaningful way leads to increased levels of a student's understanding of their own study habits, which is the necessary formula for success.  Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's program while at Achievement Learning Center, as the connection between school and home is essential to the optimum success of all learners.

Homework Success

In Homework Success, we conquer current homework assignments and help students prepare for upcoming tests. The program doesn’t stop with just homework help. It goes beyond by assessing the overall educational strengths and weaknesses of each student. Through the comprehensive evaluation offered at Achievement Learning Center, a complete academic picture of the student is provided. When difficulties arise, teachers have the information necessary to improve weak skills. The goal of "Homework Success" is to help each learner become a successful and confident student.

SAT/ACT Prep

The SAT/ACT Prep program at Achievement Learning Center helps prepare students by incorporating general strategies for test taking, as well as test content.  We offer teacher guided instruction and maintain a very low (3:1) teacher to student ratio, which allows for an individualized plan for each student.   Structured and sequential computerized lessons offer reinforcement for students and can provide a tool for "brush-up" right before the exam date. Eight sessions are offered and are tailored to the individual needs of each student – some may need more focus in one area than another.  It is our goal with our SAT/ACT program to help students prepare physically and mentally for the test and to understand and be able to use the scores as a means of enhancing the school-to-college transition.

Learning Environment

The open and inviting design of our center provides students with an optimal learning atmosphere.  The learning studio provides an open and warm, yet focused place to learn and the smaller learning areas provide areas with less distraction where some students work best.  Attention to detail is evident throughout the center, as well as inspirational and positive decor. Achievement Learning Center provides a motivating and highly interactive environment for learners of all ages.

Class Schedule

Achievement Learning Center is currently offering classes Monday through Thursday, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Testing sessions can be scheduled during the mornings, Monday – Thursday, as well as Saturday mornings or in the early afternoon Monday – Thursday. Test sessions take approximately 3  hours for the complete academic evaluation or one hour for one academic area.

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