At Architects For Learning, our goal is to provide students of all ages with life-long strategies that will support them with learning and academic success.  We tailor our intervention to the unique learning style and challenges of each student.  Our focus is on developing the foundation skills needed for success with all facets of learning: listening, speaking, reading, writing, mathematics, planning, organization, memory, and study skills. 

Our approach to working with students is based on strategic teaching principles.  We teach students where, when, why, and how to use specific language and learning strategies that can support their academic success in all subjects.  To best support students, we may at times use their assignments as a context in which to teach them.  Our goal is not to complete students’ homework in the time we work with them each week.  Rather, we aim to help students learn specific strategies that they can use to be successful in school every day.  As a result, we strive to balance our intervention, helping students in the moment as well as in the long term. 

In addition to teaching the various foundation skills for language and learning, we also guide students with becoming more aware of and responsible for their own learning.  As mentors, we help them apply effective strategies so that they can work with confidence, monitor and make adjustments when they encounter difficulty, and self-advocate for what they need to succeed.  These are the hallmarks of self-regulated learning, and developing self-regulated learners is our ultimate goal. 

Learning to use strategies requires effort, motivation, and a willingness to try doing things differently on the part of students.  Because each student is unique, we often do not know exactly how long it will take for him or her to internalize strategies for academic success.  Sometimes changes in learning are immediate and dramatic; other times we see more subtle changes that reveal themselves over time. 

Students generally come to us because some aspect of learning has challenged them.  Sometimes this challenge negatively affects their belief that they can and will be able to succeed in school.  Our vision is that all students see themselves as whole and capable learners.  Toward that end, we are committed to creating strong partnerships with students, families, teachers, and schools that ensure their success.