About The Center for School Success
The Center for School Success (CSS),
a non-profit organization established in 2003, is located in
West Lebanon, New Hampshire. All CSS services are designed
to help students, teachers and parents use brain-based research
findings to understand specific breakdowns in learning, while
shifting their focus from what individual students can’t do
to what they can do. CSS believes that students
need to know how they learn best; teachers need to know how to
address the unique strengths and needs of all their students;
and parents need to know how to support their children’s
learning strengths and challenges. CSS services include
learning assessments, teacher training and community outreach.
Neurodevelopmental Approach
CSS uses a neurodevelopmental approach,
originally conceived by Dr. Mel Levine, to help students, their
parents and teachers fully understand how a student
learns (“neuro” = of the brain; “developmental” =
changing over time). This approach is based on the belief that
successful, differentiated teaching and learning involves consideration
of three factors: 1) a student’s individual profile of
strengths and weaknesses; 2) academic demands; and 3) the learning
environment. The diagram below shows the context in which learning
occurs. CSS’ neurodevelopmental approach serves
as a bridge to support successful learning when a student’s
strengths don’t match the demands of an academic task.
Leverage a strength
Add a new
skill
Adjust rate, volume, complexity
Strengthen an existing
skill
This approach often includes implementation
of specific strategies that leverage areas of strength to help
students achieve intended learning. The CSS neurodevelopmental
approach provides teachers with a lens through which they can
observe, examine and describe student learning. It includes
a general understanding of eight broad neurodevelopmental categories,
or constructs. These are: attention, language, higher
order thinking, memory, neuromotor skills, social skills, spatial
and sequential ordering skills. These eight constructs, and
their respective sub-categories, provide a shared language
with which to understand and discuss learning. |
About CSS Professional Development
CSS presentations, workshops and
courses are outcome-oriented and highly interactive. All CSS professional
development programs are designed to help educators examine
their teaching approach to students with learning differences
and determine successful ways to manage all students
with whom they work. Each CSS course includes the following
elements:
- Neurodevelopmental perspective of teaching and
learning;
- Exploration of new concepts through structured exercises and experiences;
- Opportunities to process and practice new ideas; and
- Creation of specific action plans to immediately incorporate and implement new
concepts into professional practice.
Over the past 6 years, CSS has shown that by describing observable
behaviors rather than labeling students (e.g., “ADD”, “dyslexic”, “lazy”),
teachers can address specific areas of weakness by leveraging
their students’ strengths. Successful outcomes permit
students to identify positively with success, rather than
internalize failure and identify with stigmatizing labels.
Commitment to Sustainability
CSS course instruction offers distinctive learning
and instructional tools and a specially designed, neurodevelopmental
approach that facilitates teachers’ abilities to help
their students experience measurable success in school and
in life
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.
CSS developed a training program specific to our needs.
They used proven methods of instruction, listened to staff,
responded knowledgeably and respectfully and kept the content
relevant to the needs of the group. Curriculum Coordinator,
Hartland, VT |
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