NILD Educational Therapy

Developing Minds. Changing Lives.

For parents of children who struggle to learn, finding effective intervention can be a challenge. Brookside Christian Academy, in conjunction with The National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), has developed tools for learning that offer hope.

NILD Educational Therapy differs from tutoring in that cognitive and perceptual weaknesses are strengthened to support independent learning. This approach is individualized and involves intensive mediated learning.

Distinctives of NILD Educational Therapy

• Explicit and intentional instruction
• Inductive reasoning and Socratic Questioning
• Guided practice and systematic feedback
• Emphasis on self-regulation
• Transfer of skills and strategies into the classroom

These distinctives address learning challenges and raise expectations for cognitive and affective change, building confidence and competence for independent functioning.

Assessment

A psycho-educational assessment is used to identify areas of cognitive strengths and patterns of weaknesses. Based upon initial and annual assessments an individualized program is designed for each student to stimulate cognitive functioning.

NILD Educational Therapy is:

• Non-tutorial
  • Learning skills, not specific content
• Integrative
  • Stimulating both perceptual and academic skills
• Individual and Intense
  • Affecting cognitive change through skilled mediation
• All-Age Inclusive
  • Enhancing thinking for individuals at all stages of life

Sessions

Educational Therapy sessions are typically twice a week for 60 minutes each session. The therapist selects interventions based on cognitive test results, the student’s age and interests, and academic demands. If the student attends BCA, every effort will be made to schedule the sessions during the school day. Students who attend elsewhere will be scheduled for after-school hours.

Benefits

Students with a diagnosis of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other processing disorders find success and significant academic gains through NILD Educational Therapy. Students with various IEP designations also benefit from therapeutic strategies because of the foundational, explicit instruction that targets individual weaknesses. Progress is monitored through weekly checklists and notes. Students are tested annually using the Woodcock-Johnson IV Achievement Test to demonstrate the significant advances in performance.

To find out how your child might benefit from Educational Therapy, call 910-292-2107 and ask for Betsy Dean or email betsy@brooksideca.org.