The Instructional Support Program at Besant Hill is a three-part comprehensive program, designed to meet the needs of all students. The Instructional Support Program includes the Instructional Support Center, the Writing Center, and the Academic Intervention Program.

      Students enrolled in the Instructional Support Program (ISP) will take part in our year-long program. Students in ISP will attend the ISP Center during one block period (either 4 days a week for one hour or 2 days a week for 1 ½ hours). During this time, students will receive instruction in learning strategies, be able to use assistive technology to aid in their learning, and receive help with organization and time-management. Grades in core classes will be closely monitored and parents and students will receive grade updates every two weeks throughout the course of the year. The Instructional Support Center will be open daily from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, and for extended hours on Thursday nights from 7pm-9pm.

      Academic Intervention is available to all students struggling in their core classes. Students may enroll in Academic Intervention on a weekly basis for an additional fee. Students enrolled in academic intervention will have the opportunity to attend ISP during either a free period in their academic day or during the after school program from 4:00 -5:30 pm. Students in Academic Intervention will receive similar instruction in learning strategies in organization and time management, and will have access to the assistive technology available in the center. Students and parents will receive a grade update at the end of each week in the program. Students may enroll or exit at any time during the school year.

      The Writing Center is available to all students throughout the course of the school year. Students may attend the writing center at any time to receive assistance at any time during the writing process. From brainstorming to editing and revising for structure and organization, the Writing Center staff will teach students strategies to improve their writing skills. There is no additional fee for this program; it is open to all students. 

Assistance Available to Students

1. Instructional Support Binder of Strategies: The Instructional Support Binder is a tool-kit of strategies, presented by ISP Staff, for students to use throughout their time at Besant Hill. Students are encouraged to reference strategies and take their binder with them to college.
2. Note-Taking Project: Teachers identify excellent note-takers in each class and those students will bring their class notes to Instructional Support for ISP staff to copy. Binders are kept in Instructional Support for each class and notes are kept in chronological order. Students in Instructional Support are able to use the copied notes to fill in the blanks. The copied notes are not be a substitute for taking notes, but can be used to add in missing information to original notes.
3. Supply Closet: Copies of all textbooks and novels used at Besant Hill are available to students for use in Instructional Support only. Also available are extra binders, dividers, highlighters, sticky notes, red pens, pencils, math tools, etc.
4. Test Taking: Students enrolled in Instructional Support and who are allowed extended time on tests and flexible setting may take tests in the Instructional Support Center. This will also be available to students who qualify during finals week. Instructional Support staff will proctor these tests.
5. College Transition: Students will develop a portfolio over their years at BHS that list out modifications and accommodations that will be helpful in the future.

Learning Strategies  

1. Master Binder/Binder Organization: Students will be required to keep one binder for all classes (unless otherwise dictated by a teacher), and to organize that binder on a weekly basis. Binder maintenance and organization will be a part of Instructional Support evaluation.
2. Planner Use: Instructional Support will promote use of student planner and teach proper use. ISP Staff will check frequent use of planner, as well as teach students strategies to effectively use and plan long-term assignments in the planner.
3. Note Taking: ISP Staff will teach and stress the use of Cornell Note-Taking for all students in Instructional Support. http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html
4. Instructional Support Plan: Students will be required to fill out weekly ISP plan sheet. This will allow ISP staff to know what long-term projects and tests, as well as daily homework. Students and ISP staff will work to prioritize time in ISP, as well as learn strategies that will be helpful in completing specific assignments.
5. Test Taking Skills: Students will learn the “how to” of test taking. ISP staff will review different strategies for taking and studying for tests. Students will learn about strategies for different styles of testing. Strategies for studying to include flashcards, mnemonics, memorization techniques, Cornell Notes studying tricks, highlighting, etc.
6. Long-Term Project Planning: Students will receive one-on-one help to break down long term projects. Blank calendars are available for students and ISP staff to set checkpoints for various parts of project. ISP staff will help monitor checkpoints and check for student work at periodic intervals
7. Prioritizing Assignments: One-on-one support is available to prioritize assignments on a daily, bi-weekly, or weekly basis, dependent on need of student.
8. Novel Reading Strategies: ISP staff will work with student to discover active reading strategies that work best with each student. Additional help is available for comprehension and pacing reading for literature novels. Strategies to include; sticky notes, annotating texts, highlighting, breaking down reading assignments into manageable chunks, text to speech programs, etc.
9. Writing Assignments: ISP staff will guide student through writing process. We will help with the blank page problem, move through brainstorming, draft writing, editing and revising, to the final product. Students will learn different revision strategies, and will eventually have a toolbox of revision strategies to pull from when writing. Strategies to include; active vs. passive voice, including quotations, citing, repetitive word use, etc.