Language Foundations: Grades 1-2

Overview

• Language Foundations is a therapeutic, non-graded class that provides evidence-based literacy intervention for students with dyslexia and other reading-based learning differences.
• Instruction is delivered by a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and is grounded in the science of reading and multisensory structured language instruction.
• Lessons are explicit, systematic, cumulative, diagnostic, and responsive to each student's individual pattern of strengths and needs.

Instructional Approach

• Instruction incorporates Orton-Gillingham-based tools and resources designed specifically to support dyslexia and related learning disorders, such as Take Flight, Build, Wilson Reading System (WRS), and Sequential English Education (SEE).
• The CALT determines the sequence, pacing, level of practice, and instructional materials based on each student's age and developmental readiness, current reading and spelling skills, identified areas of need, rate of progress, and response to instruction.
• This flexible, diagnostic approach allows instruction to be tailored to each student rather than requiring every student to progress through the same materials at the same pace.

Group Structure

• Instruction is provided in small groups, typically with two to three students and never more than four.
• Group size is determined by instructional needs and student dynamics.
• Group placement is guided by the alignment of students' skill levels, instructional goals, learning pace, and group dynamics so that instruction remains appropriately targeted and responsive.
• Group composition may be adjusted throughout the year as students progress or their instructional needs change.

Schedule

• Students attend Language Foundations four days per week for 45 minutes.
• Sessions will typically replace the student's phonics block or another designated literacy intervention period.
• When consistent scheduling during the phonics or literacy block is not possible, students may be scheduled during a combination of the grade-level phonics block, the grade-level Strategic Learning or intervention block, Spanish, and/or other appropriate times.
• Scheduling decisions will be made thoughtfully, with consideration given to the student's overall academic program and instructional needs.
• Regularly scheduled sessions may be missed due to special schedule days, school holidays, and staff absence or illness. When possible, missed sessions will be recovered the following week.
• Services throughout the year include time at the beginning, middle, and end of year to complete individual benchmark assessments and progress monitoring (~3 weeks annually), during which group therapy will not occur.

Focus Areas

• Phonological and phonemic awareness
• Sound-symbol relationships
• Decoding and word recognition
• Encoding, spelling, and orthographic processing
• Reading accuracy, automaticity, and fluency
• Vocabulary and morphological awareness
• Oral and written language comprehension
• Sentence construction and written expression
• Specific instructional priorities will vary by student.

Eligibility

• Language Foundations is available to students on the Hillcrest campus in grades 1-2 with an active Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP).
• Students must have a diagnosed reading-based learning difference, such as dyslexia.
• Students must have a documented need for specialized literacy intervention.
• Enrollment and group placement are determined through a review of the student's evaluation, educational history, current performance, instructional needs, and compatibility with an appropriate instructional group.

Behavior Expectations

• The Study programs provide supportive and encouraging learning environments where students can take academic risks, build confidence, and develop greater independence. To ensure this standard, students are expected to participate with kindness, focus, effort, and respect.

Cost

• Tuition is $9,500 per year.
• Charges will be added to your Smart Tuition account and may be prorated based on the student's enrollment date.
• Payment structure will default to the tuition payment schedule (one time payment, biannual, monthly, etc.) unless requested otherwise.

Financial Assistance

• Families receiving tuition assistance who would like to apply for financial assistance for Language Foundations should contact Lauren Westerfield, Director of Financial Assistance, at lwesterfield@parish.org.

Additional Information

• For questions, please contact Phillip Page, Director of The Gilman Study, at ppage@parish.org.
• Please complete one registration form per child.
• There is no fee to submit the registration form.
• Tuition will be applied after enrollment has been reviewed and processed.