Dennis Burke

            WELCOME TO THE OPTIMAL LEARNING CENTRE

            HIGH SCHOOL WIKI PAGE

Using your Long Term Education plan as a basis, your high school resource teachers can assist you in reaching your goals. As you progress through high school, we hope that you can increasingly advocate for yourself, which will lead to your independence as an adult.

                                                                    ORGANIZATION

All students are expected to come to class with notebooks, textbooks, writing instruments and a calculator if needed. An agenda is also highly recommended to keep track of assignments and tests.

Students are reminded that storage is available in room 114, for OLC level 1 and 2 students.Carrying very heavy bags, especially low on the back, is not reccomended. Your OLC resource teacher can help you co-ordinate what you need when and where.

                                                   TIME MANAGEMENT

                                                               EFFORT

All students will be given guidance and encouragement, in these two critical areas to improve their chances of success in high school.

                                                      IN OLC CLASS……..

At the beginning of each class, students will be asked to mark any quizzes, tests, homework assignments and projects that are up coming on the white board. On a regular basis, grades will be reviewed and problem areas noted with potential strategies to improve performance and marks. It is hoped that Silent Sustained Reading as well as Reading Lab exercises will be a regular part of OLC class time. All homework and project work done in class should fit into the context of optimizing student learning abilities.

Students will be encouraged to adapt the SQ3R; survey,question,read,review,recite study method that has proven very effective with many students.

                               ENRICHMENT

            With some exceptions, room 114 is always open after school for enrichment and students are encouraged to come for extra help on assignments or just to chat.

                                                                     TESTING

            This year we would like students to test in the classroom when ever possible. This allows them immediate access to their classroom teacher to ask questions. It also fosters a sense of independence. Students who are identified as needing extra testing time can return their test to their classroom teacher at the end of class. The OLC teacher will escort the student with the test to be completed to the OLC class, in the following class period or during break, lunch or enrichment time. Prior arrangements will be made between the teacher and OLC teacher.A guidline for extra time is 50% of the original test time.

Students who experience serious test anxiety will be allowed to continue to test in the OLC room. This will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

                                                             LINKS

Students are reminded to check course Wiki pages for use full links that can make completing course material easier.

For Algebra 2, don’t forget to check out PHSchool.com. Enter the web code “age-0775” and click “go” to access class tutorials.

                                                        Health Issues

For general information on health issues a good web site is mayoclinic.com.

 Is your back pack too heavy? Consider a bag with wheels.

Check out  about.com:pediatrics for info on this important topic.

                                                        CONTACTS

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns or problems.

Mr. Burke; dburke@cms.edu.do

Mr. Daum ; jdaum@cms.edu.do