Waypoint is unique in that it brings tier 3 level support into the school day. There is no need to lengthen a student’s hours or cut into extracurriculars or family time!

After many years in the elementary school system, I have seen many different systems in place to help children who were experiencing learning challenges. Many schools rely on the RTI (Response to Intervention) model and have in-house learning support for students that meet criteria for tier 2 support. Typically, tier 2 support involves a student joining a group with other students a few times a week to work with a learning support teacher. Very few schools have a tier 3 support plan, so they must seek outside assistance for those students who need more in terms of frequency or specialized instruction.

Some things occurred to me:

- I saw both occupational and speech therapists come and go throughout the school day, implementing therapy woven into the school day.

- I saw the strain on parents as their day was interrupted to transfer their child to an outside support place during the school day.

- The students that were receiving after school support were not looking forward to after school work.

-There was a disconnect in communication between the classroom teacher and what was taking place/progress happening in outside support facilities.

I started to wonder…

How could we reformat the traditional RTI model in a way that put children and families first? I started to wonder why we hadn’t yet tried a school-based model with support embedded into the child’s day?

Although school-based academic support has required some creative thinking, as we inch towards spring, many advantages have blossomed with this model:

- School-based support during the school day capitalizes on the brain during its peak performance hours. I know how hard it is for me to focus on any after school meetings so I can completely relate to students’ wiggly little bodies after a day at school.

-School-based support holds sacred the restorative playtime and family time after school. Students that are facing challenges need free time just as much, if not more, than children who are successful in all parts of their day.

-School-based support allows for short communication opportunities with the classroom teacher and exemplifies the team approach to learning.

-School-based support allows parents to focus on their day so they can be more present after school with their child.

-School-based support preserves a child’s sense of self. They are not sitting through class work that is beyond their current level of understanding.

-School-based support allows the interventionist to see the child's classroom environment and suggest immediate strategies to implement for greater success.

As we near the spring, Waypoint has built relationships with many schools and it has been exciting to watch a dream take flight! I cannot help but reflect back on the progress the students have made, how their confidence has grown, and how their learning community is integrated and cohesive.