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Does your child struggle in school even though they are very bright or even gifted? Does your child have trouble being and staying organized? Does you child think they are “dumb”?
Today we are thrilled to be talking with two outstanding women in our community, Dr. Bonnie King and Ann Dennis with Summit Charter School in Maitland. We are discussing Specific Learning disabilities and what that means for your child. This topic has touch a cord in my home having 2 children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disabilities.
The information that Dr. King and Ms. Dennis offer is awesome and very helpful if you are looking for a dynamic educational setting for your child. Listen as they describe what the term Specific Learning Disabled or “SLD” means and what it may look like in children. They talk about teaching to and using the child’s strengths as well as involving all of their senses in the learning process.
As Dr. Bonnie King says they are smart kids that learn differently. We just need to find out how they learn and create an educational environment that facilitates their learning style. We learned today that their are 8 styles of learning some being auditory, visual, kinesthetic and even a combination of them to name a few.
Ms. Dennis explains the use of certain wall colors and scents that create a soothing and calming environment. She also talks about having small class sizes in addition to having a certified teacher and paraprofessional in each classroom.
Dr. Bonnie King has spent 37 years as a Central Florida Educator. She worked for Orange County Public Schools for 35 years in the following capacities:
•Middle school teacher
•Elementary guidance counselor
•High school guidance counselor
•District-level resource counselor
•High school assistant principal
•Director of Grant Services
She is currently the principal of Summit Charter School, a K-8th grade school serving children with specific learning disabilities. She is building a campus philosophy that includes parent participation, student clubs, athletics, community service and, above all, academic success for all children. She believes that the school environment should embrace the needs of all students and that all achievements must be celebrated. To assist students in being successful, sensory motor and brain gym activities are taught to students and teachers and are infused into all classrooms. In addition to focusing on the academic and social needs of students with specific learning disabilities she believes the school should provide opportunities to participate in clubs and athletics. She has reconstituted the school so that students can enjoy clubs such as chorus, band, art, poetry, cooking, sewing, gardening, etc., and has placed a renewed emphasis on intramural sports such as basketball, flag football, soccer, cheerleading, and volleyball. This year she is happy to announce that 22 students in 8th grade will graduate from Summit Charter School – all ready and eager to begin a new life as a high school student.
Ann Dennis has a Bachelors Degree in Education with certifications in ESE k-12, Phys Ed k-12, and Elementary Ed k-6. Her Philosophy, as taken from Summit Charter School’s Website is, “Every child has the capability to learn. It is up to the teachers to get them to WANT to learn. As a teacher I have to teach them that learning is fun, exercise is fun, and that learning and exercise is a life long process. -Teachers in many circumstances focus too much on one aspect of a child. I make it a goal to focus on the whole child. The reason for this is because children are complex individuals, just as adults. -Each child learns differently. And it is my duty to find how they learn best, and teach them in that learning style to the best of my ability”.
Summit students possess average to above-average intelligence, but many test below their capabilities in reading, writing and/or math. Most of their students are identified as having Specific Learning Disabilities, and therefore learn differently. Consequently, their teachers teach differently by using hands-on activities and strategies which are ideal for kinesthetic learners. It is their goal to identify the learning style of every child and to improve their educational achievement by catering specifically to their needs.
Summit will be offering the following for students next year:
• Free transportation
• Free tuition
• Occupational and Speech Therapy
• Sensory motor activities in all classrooms
• Small classes
• Certified ESE teachers in all classrooms
• Para-professionals in all classrooms
• Intramural sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, flag football, cheerleading)
• Middle School Clubs (chorus, band, art, poetry, cooking, sewing, gardening, chess, etc)
Please visit our website to learn more about Summit Charter School
www.summitcharter.com or call them at 407-599-4001 to set up an appointment to visit the school.
We hope you enjoy listening to our interview with Debra Beckman. It is our mission, at Bright Feats to connect families with medical, educational, and special needs resources. If we can help you please contact us at www.brightfeats.com.
