About The Center for School Success
The Center for School Success (CSS), located in West Lebanon, New Hampshire on the border of New Hampshire and
Vermont, is a non-profit organization established in
2003. CSS offers both a nationally recognized assessment model and professional development
programs that incorporate brain-based research as a means
to detect, understand and describe specific breakdowns
in learning. CSS provides services specifically focused on ways to better understand and manage
students' unique learning profiles (in school and at
home), by providing strategies to promote self-advocacy
and school success.
Neurodevelopmental Approach
Successful, differentiated teaching and learning strategies need to take into account not only the neurodevelopmental demands of a given academic subject or lesson, but also the environment in which the student is learning at any given time. CSS looks at learning in terms of eight broad neurodevelopmental categories (constructs): attention, language, higher order thinking, memory, neuromotor skills, social skills, and
spatial and sequential ordering skills. CSS uses this neurodevelopmental approach to help teachers gain a complete picture
of how their students learn. The approach includes a general understanding of the eight constructs and a shared
language with which to discuss the influence these areas on learning. The approach also includes using student observations, examination of student work and identification of ways to leverage students’ strengths to help overcome areas of weakness.
About CSS Professional Development
CSS courses are outcome-oriented and highly interactive; they are geared to help educators examine their
teaching approach to students with learning differences and determine successful ways to manage all students with whom they work.
All CSS courses include the following elements:
- Neurodevelopmental perspective of teaching and learning with exploration of
new concepts through structured exercises and experiences;
- Opportunities to process and practice new ideas collaboratively; and
- Creation of specific action plans to immediately incorporate and implement new
concepts into professional work.
CSS has demonstrated that when classroom teachers are able to identify students'
learning strengths and weaknesses, it enables them to better meet all their students’ diverse learning needs. CSS has also found that helping teachers to focus on observable behaviors rather than labeling students (e.g., ADD, dyslexic, lazy), offers students and teachers the opportunity to accommodate specific areas of weakness without placing harmful
labels on a student that then become part of his/her identity.
Commitment to Sustainability
CSS course instruction offers distinctive learning and classroom management tools and a specially designed, collaborative approach that facilitates teachers’ abilities to help their students experience measurable
successes in school and in life.
CSS encourages educators to sign up for CSS courses in groups of at least 3 school team members to promote ongoing development and implementation. For this reason, course discounts are offered to teams of 3 participants or more per district.
CSS Specializes in Customized Services
The Center for School Success welcomes the opportunity to create customized, on-site professional development programs for schools or districts. Contact CSS regarding this option, as availability may be limited. References from past recipients are provided upon request.
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