Our Students

Many of our students come to the Pinnacle Academy after prior experiences in traditional learning environments that did not prove to meet their learning needs. Our curriculum is designed for students who have been identified with dyslexia, expressive language disorder, attentional deficit, auditory processing weaknesses, and/or problems with executive function and study skills. In some cases, our students have been identified as “twice exceptional” and will greatly benefit from our multi-sensory, differentiated approach to learning. Our classes offer a flexible schedule that allows for students to be placed in a remedial or advanced course to address their specific level, style, and pace of learning.

One thing that most students, parents, and teachers can agree upon is that all students cannot be placed inside a box of traditional education.

 

We specialize in education and strategy-building for the following identifications:

Dyslexia/Specific Learning Disability

Auditory Processing Disorder

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Anxiety/Low Self-Confidence

 
“A one size fits all educational model will just not fit the bill.”

How do we reach unique learners in the classroom?

  • Address the core issue(s) to develop a structured, systematic phonetic approach to learning. Research indicates that explicit, multi-sensory instruction can actually change the brain when specific instruction is consistent over time.

  • Deeply understand each student as a learner. Understanding the student’s personal learning style, motivators, and individual interests is the key to promoting a positive learning environment. Learn about their dominant side of the brain. Right-brain strengths include intuition, illustration, encoding, visual memory, gross motor skill, and creativity. Incorporating these into learning will promote success.

  • Empower students with the tools they will need to succeed. There are a variety of strategies and tools that can empower students to be independent learners. Assistiveware technologies offer great enhancements to learning such as text-to-speech, spell check, visual/auditory books, voice note sharing, and more. These tools help to alleviate stress and free the brain to focus on content.

  • Teach in the way that they learn. Allow students to demonstrate their knowledge via preferred learning styles. Project-Based Learning (PBL) is distinguished by its focus on big-picture thinking, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. PBL’s interdisciplinary approach differentiates and integrates, rather than compartmentalizes knowledge. It emphasizes experiential learning rather than memorization and offers the student with dyslexia an opportunity to leverage his strengths to demonstrate outcomes. You can nearly feel neurons firing during the learning process!

  • Offer enrichment classes. Keep in mind that students who are challenged with dyslexia are most likely bright, creative, and talented individuals. Identify and develop their talents through art, music, technology, sports, and science.

  • Stress destroys memory. Students who are embraced into a supportive learning environment can develop confidence and perform more productively in all aspects of school.

 
 

Being in the right learning environment makes a critical difference for any student. The more a student experiences the consequences of his or her challenges, the less enthusiastic and self - confident this student will become, not only academically, but socially and emotionally, as well. A strength-based approach is the answer for many children who are not thriving in traditional learning environments.

When classrooms and teachers are equipped to balance the necessary remediation with a rich, stimulating learning environment that highlights and nurtures the student’s strengths and talents, it not only boosts academic skills...it can do so much more!

We are not able to accept students who present with a history of behavioral problems that pose a disruption to the learning environment.

 

The Pinnacle Academy is a non-discriminatory community dedicated to embracing diversity and respecting students as unique individuals. We welcome students of any race, color, ethnic origin, religion, or sexual/gender orientation.