Learning Support refers to a wide range of services and support for learners, starting with preschool through to high school completion. It includes services for new Canadians, Aboriginal students, second language learners, students with exceptional need and students looking to upgrade and complete high school. Our District offers a range of services as well as supports to all schools. Our goal is to provide all students with the necessary support for them to fully participate in their learning environment and achieve their potential.
Learning Support Services
Action on Inclusion
The Government of Alberta has moved from Setting the Direction to Action on Inclusion. Within Alberta the goal of an inclusive education system is to provide all students with the most appropriate learning environments and opportunities for them to best achieve their potential. The Government of Alberta has identified important factors we need to take into consideration when shifting to an inclusive education system:
- Identifying what success looks like for each student
- Deciding what students need to be successful
- Identifying what services are available and who is providing them
- Providing supports through cross-government services
- Measuring success for all in traditional and new ways
Counselling
For more information, please connect with your child's homeroom teacher. Our teacher counsellor offers Universal Programming to all students in Grades K-5 and provides some small group and individual support.
We are grateful to have our teacher counsellor, Ms. Alex Ann Mulner supporting ALL our students.
English Language Learning
The goal of ESL programming is to provide students with planned systematic instruction and support that will enable them to speak the English language fluently, further their education and become productive and contributing members of Albertan and Canadian society.
Registration - All registrations must come through Michelle Loxton at the Education Centre
ESL Contact - All schools have a designated ESL contact, an intake process and an assessment ard reporting process. Please contact Catherine Thorsen, our school ESL contact, for more information.
The Kindergarten to Grade 12 English as a Second Language Proficiency Benchmarks provides the foundation for developing a common understanding of English language proficiency levels and ESL programming needs across the province. The benchmarks provide descriptions of the English language abilities that students typically demonstrate at each of five proficiency levels.
More information about English as a Second Language is available at:http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/esl.aspx
FNMI
Kindergarten
The purpose of Kindergarten is to provide learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate in order to meet the diverse needs of children and promote a positive attitude toward lifelong learning. A child whose developmental needs have been met is more likely to grow into a self-reliant, responsible, caring and contributing member of society. Funding is provided for the child to attend Kindergarten for 475 hours in one year.
More Information can be found at: http://education.alberta.ca/parents/ecs.aspx
Please find attached some links to important tools to help your Kindergerten child better succeed.
http://humanservices.alberta.ca/family-community/talk-box.html
Learning Team
The purpose of the Learning Team is to assist students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes necessary for success. It assists teachers to develop strategies to meet the specific needs of a student.
The LearningTeam is comprised of the School Administration Team, the Parent(s), the Referring Teacher, the Learning Support Teacher and as needed the District School Psychologist, the Counselor, and other Outside Agencies.
Parent(s) of students referred will be contacted to meet with the Learning Team to discuss concern(s) and arrive at some mutual solutions.
Precision Reading
Precision Reading at Agnes Davidson
Developed by Dr. Rick Freeze, Precision Reading is a daily reading program designed to help improve reading comprehension, fluency and word recognition for students with below grade level reading achievement.
The program incorporates repeated readings of passages (up to ten readings of each passage), with word practice of words that are unknown to the student. The key to success for this program is to work with students on a daily basis.
The program has seen great success in improved student reading since its implementation in 2013.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to implement Precision Reading at home with your child, please contact the learning support teachers Mme Cummins or Mr. Scott.
For more information on Precision Reading, please visit the Precision Reading Website at http://www.precisionreading.com/