Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy Show #102

Before the holidays, I had the opportunity to spend the day at Commonwealth Academy, a college preparatory school for children with ADHD and learning disabilities, located in Alexandria, VA. Commonwealth Academy serves children from 6th grade through high school,and is a school that feels very much like a community the moment you walk through the doors.

I got to sit down with Dr. Susan Johnson, the Director of the school, and we talked about everything from how they select their students, to how their curriculum and teaching methods differ from traditional schools. Dr. Johnson has been an educator and has worked with children in special education for over 30 years, and she sat on one of the initial panels that put together the IEP process for the State of New Jersey back in the 1970's. Her experience and perspective on children who struggle in traditional school settings is amazing, and it was an absolute privilege to be able to speak with her, the staff and the students at Commonwealth.

I've split our interview into two parts; the first discusses how important it is to take a child-centered approach to education, and how that's the first step to helping struggling learners to begin to think of themselves as academic achievers. We also talk about how the environment of a school matters, and how it is integral to creating a community rather than just an institution of learning.

We've given away our first handful of books, but we have some more available! Additionally, while you may have missed out on the Marcus Buckingham books here, my friend Carrie Runnals from the Words to Mouth podcast, has a few copies she would love to give away to our listeners! Just click the link and go to Carrie's website and you might win! The Words to Mouth podcast is a great place where readers can find out more about the authors and their work through insightful interviews, done by Carrie, another one of the fantastic ladies from the Divacast!

Click here to listen to Show #102, Dr. Susan Johnson, Commonwealth Academy

Part II of Interview with Ben Mitchell, Landmark College

This week, the community lost one of its true treasures, Sally L. Smith, Founder of the Lab School, and professor at American University. I was lucky enough to sit down and interview Sally last spring for the podcast. I will be republishing the shows with Sally in the podcast feed, to celebrate her life and work. Thank you to Vivian Vasquez from the CLIP Podcast and American University for introducing me to Sally, and for letting me [articipate in a small way in Sally's memorial.

In this week's show, we finish our talk with Ben Mitchell, Director of Admissions from Landmark College. We discuss changing college curriculum to decrease attrition in all schools; The use oif Assistive technology in the classroom, Summer Programs at Landmark College, and their most famous graduate, Russell Cosby, brother of Bill Cosby.

Russell Cosby attended Landmark College as an adult, to work on his reading problems caused by dyslexia, as geatured in the film, Ennis's Gift, available through the Ennis Cosby Foundation. This film let me see what going to school was like for people with learning disabilities, and see how it affected people as they grew up- it was one of the most moving documentaries I have ever seen, and I urge you all to check it out.


Links discussed in the show:
Landmark College
Inspiration/Kidspiration Software
Diane King and the Kildonan School
101 Uses for Baby Wipes
Just One More Book
Mommycast- Don't miss their great Holiday Contest!!!!!
Mommycast and Friends
Financial Aid Podcast

Click here to download Show #73 Ben Mitchell, Landmark College

Show #72 Benjamin Mitchell, Director of Admissions, Landmark College- Transitioning to College

In today's show, we speak with Ben Mitchell, Director of Admissions at Landmark College. Landmark College specializes in students with learning disabilities and ADHD, as well as transitioning students into other four-year colleges with the skills they need to succeed.

Ben and I talked about a variety of topics, including Universal Design of Curriculum, seeking to make college courses accessible to everyone, regardless of disability. We spoke about the Center for Applied Special Technology, or CAST, which specializes in universal design; the Association of Higher Eeducation and Disability, (AHEAD), a group of colleges looking at accessibility issues for students with a broad range of disabilities, not just learning issues.

With national graduation rates from college indicating that over 45% of students drop out, colleges are trying to figure out how to reduce this rate. But the biggest challenges students face when entering college is not the classwork itself, it's having to manage time, organization, and planning, needed to complete coursework- the skill set that poses so many challenges for kids with learning disabilities and ADHD in particular. Executive functions and understanding how a student learns best is a primary issue for college students, and it's at the center of the programs provided at Landmark.

Even if your child is not of college age, I know you'll find this conversation intriguing, as we talk about how learning to learn is as important as what you learn about at school.

Click here to Download Ben Mitchell, Landmark College- Universal Design in Curriculum and Skills needed in the Transition to College