Thanks to Adrienne Walls-Bruner for her EXCELLENT notes!
Madison Learning Differences Support Group met at Greengate School.
Marcia Ramsey, school headmistress was the speaker. John Hood chaired the meeting.
Greengate School started last fall and has five students now, two fourth graders and three fifth graders. The students cover the entire curriculum: math, science, History and intense concentration on reading/language and spelling. They have a main classroom but have expanded to use the entire 2nd floor. Greengate expects to have 8 to 9 children next year in grades first through sixth.
Patti McLanahan teaches math and science, Sarah James is a speech language specialist, Wendy Lenentine does Literature and tutoring.
Greengate uses Everyday Math- lots of manipulatives and hands on, and a lot of hands on science. History textbook is the basic book used by Huntsville City schools. Kids have audiotapes for these books at their disposal.
Keyboarding: Have a computer lab. Began with typing and learning keyboarding first so they can take advantage of word processing. The older kids are at 10-15 wpm which is the target range for that age range. They use a Disney program, Timon and Pumba for fun. The core is a no frills typing book. As they type they have to say aloud every letter to max those senses. Works out best to use this for a few minutes and then the �fun� program.
Check the EPS website www.epsbooks.com
for Keyboarding Skills All Grade by Diana Hanbury King
Marcia went through a typical daily schedule which includes a one hour tutoring session for each student.
Art is Tuesday and Thursday. Erica Hall from UAH volunteers and works with the students.
Greengate covers most all areas with the exception of music, so if you know of any resources to assist with music, please let them know.
There is a really nice playground for the school also.
(Sherwood Baptist Church is allowing Greengate to use the facilities at no charge as an outreach ministry!)
There is a week training this summer for ORTON GILLINGHAM June 9-13 at Greengate. This multisensory language instruction will be $450 including materials and two follow up visits during the year. There are 24 students signed up. At this point you would be put on a waiting list for the course.
Greengate will have a summer program June 30- July 25 8 to noon. The tuition will be $1,000 for the program which will be tutoring plus fun for grades 1-6. Greengate offers tutoring after school at the school.
www.greengateschool.org
What is Greengate doing to transition the kids back to regular school?
They eventually want to go up to the 8th grade. They are covering everything and they will be learning study skills, organizational skills, learning skills, socialization skills and the hope so that they will be on par or ahead of their peers when they transition.
HASP Hands on Science Program established by UAH
they have many different modules and have a training course in the summer to be certified to use their materials.
Evaluation at Greengate is $150. At the Scottish Rite Center testing is free. The waiting list is long but a second person will be hired to assist Dr. Gibbs in evaluations.
Visits to Greengate are welcome, as are donations.
Mr. Jerry Burfitt talked about the Scottish Rite Foundation Fundraiser on April 12th raised $7,300 for the foundation. Thanks to all who came and bought tickets for this fundraiser.