חנוך לנער על פי דרכו
Teach a child according to his own way.
No two children learn in the exact same way, nor do they experience success in the same way. The path to success must be personalized to each child’s individual strengths, interests and learning style. The uniqueness of a Brauser Maimonides Academy (BMA) education is its focus on ensuring that each student meets his or her potential regardless of what it takes to get there.
With that in mind, BMA is proud to announce that our academic support program now includes an alternative classroom for students who learn best in a smaller learning environment. Derech, which literally means path or road, is a self-contained classroom that is designed to lead its students on the “path” towards their own individual success. Derech is geared towards students with significant learning challenges who require a different style of instruction than what is typically offered in a mainstream classroom.
Derech offers an individualized educational program that is set up for each student. Each student is working on their own set of goals which are based on initial and ongoing assessments in all areas including reading, writing, language, math, kriya and chumash. There is a student to teacher ratio of 4:1 and the class is led by a teacher with a degree in Special Education and benefits from a reading specialist consultant. Lessons are designed to be multi-sensory and hands on so that students are fully engaged in the learning process. Activities are cross-curricular and learning is often paired with field trips within the community to authenticate learning and offer real life perspective.
Students join their peer group in as many ways as possible. PE, Art, Lunch, Recess, Shabbat Assembly are a few examples of opportunities that the students have to learn alongside their peers.
Derech was launched at the start of the 2017-2018 school year with 3 students in grades 1-3. Students not only grew academically, but their confidence increased significantly, which is an essential element of learning. This past year has proven that when in the right environment and with the appropriate learning expectations, students can experience success. We are looking forward to expanding the program in the coming year and meeting the needs of more students.
To learn more about BMA’s Derech Program, please email Mrs. Lauren Segelbaum, Assistant Principal at lsegelbaum@brauser.us or call 954-686-6886.