Welcome!
At Elbow Valley Elementary, the goal of the Learning Support Program is to meet the individual learning styles and needs of all its students. We are fortunate to have a learning support team dedicated to the development of literacy skills. Supports services are offered across the grades and in a variety of formats.
Learning Support Teachers have the primary responsibility for assisting in the screening, overall planning and coordination of supports for students with exceptional needs. Determining intervention and supports for these students are collaborative decisions made with input from the classroom teacher, the learning support teacher and parents. At times, further consultation is needed. Services of a Program Specialist, School Psychologist and/or Speech and Language Pathologist may be requested.
Learning Support refers to the many ways that Elbow Valley addresses the individual needs of students.
We use a team approach, with the classroom teacher and a learning strategy teacher working together to create an inclusive approach to literacy learning. Other folks, such as teaching assistants and advisors from Rocky View Schools are included as needed.
There are various ways teaching and learning are happening for children. Small group instruction targeting specific learning needs may occur in your child’s classroom, in the hallway or in a learning support space. The groupings are flexible. This means there will movement in and out of groups, depending upon the needs of the children. With this flexibility, we tailor our teaching to meet changing needs. The small group opportunities also can enhance student confidence.
We, as a staff, will keep you, as parents, informed of the programming we are offering your child. Should you have any questions, please be sure to call or e-mail your child’s teacher.
Students who have gone through a formal assessment process may receive special education designation under Alberta Education guidelines. An IPP (Individualized Program Plan) outlines appropriate instructional and assessment accommodations as well as relevant goals and objectives to address areas of need.
School staff and families of special needs students are supported by specialists and consultants through Rocky View School Division’s Student Services. They may provide consultative expertise, formal assessment and reviews of programming to the school. The constant communication and collaboration of all involved helps foster a successful, challenging and safe learning environment for our students.
At the Kindergarten level, our Speech and Language Services are through Rocky View Schools. If your child is in Kindergarten and you have concerns, please contact the classroom teacher.
Alberta Health Services is responsible for Speech and Language Services for the students in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. Students seen in Kindergarten for speech-language services through Rocky View Schools or other service providers do not always automatically transfer to Alberta Health Service. If a teacher has concerns about a student’s speech or language development in Grades one through four, they will contact the parent before the referral process begins. If a parent has concerns, please speak to your child's classroom teacher.
All intervention recommendations are based on research and clinical experience. Research shows the best way to make progress with speech and language goals is to involve teachers and parents as active participants.