We are the most innovative, alternative approach to educating preteens and adolescents with learning disabilities in Toronto, Canada. Our total student population is intentionally kept at a minimum, with fewer than thirty students at any given time. Our student-
teacher ratio is specifically kept exceptionally low; our program is very designed to allow students the greatest increase in skill level over the shortest period of time.
We believe that an intensive approach with extremely low ratios over the period of a school year can dramatically alter the outlook for a student - and we have seen this materialize time and time again.
Our approach is very alternative; we teach students about their own learning disability and obstacles, and give them tools and strategies to cope with their particular learning style or difference. We also believe in using a combination of relevant and creative teaching methods in
our applications of the Ontario Curriculum, which change according to the specific needs of each student. Our methods are very individualized - we believe that what works for one student may not necessarily work with another who may be diagnosed with the same disability or may even have the same learning profile. We work around the differences by offering highly tailored programs and
by teaching individualized 'problem attack' and problem solving skills, as well as critical thinking.
Our course load includes all of the basic courses regularly expected in a school environment, like Math and English, but it also includes: instructional strategies, learning strategies, attentional skills, sensory desensitization, homework strategies, test-taking procedures, independent learning, risk taking in academic environments, academic tolerance and stability, consistency, deduction, problem solving, critical thinking, error methodology and social skills. These skills are crucial if students with learning differences are to succeed in regular school settings.
The Gap Academic Programme follows the official guidelines written by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
texts. Additionally, we also use textbooks that have been used successfully by teachers of the LD population, as well as excellent texts which are not part of the Trillium List, (e.g. Grammar Is Grammar Is Important), but are nonetheless excellent texts for any student. We also custom produce materials for ), but are nonetheless excellent texts for any student. We also custom produce materials for specific needs, specific needs, e.g. idiomatic expressions for ASD students or cursive writing programmes for students with attention deficit problems.