Learning Support and Enrichment Center “A learning plan designed with your child in mind.” 260-925-1393, ext. 237 or 227 5555 CR 29 Auburn, IN 46706 [veiw map] The Learning Support and Enrichment Center (LSEC) is a place where your student can learn at his or her own pace, progress to grade level, and learn study/organizational skills that he or she can apply in future learning situations. As a parent, you can expect the following: • A partnership between the LSEC instructors, classroom teacher(s), your student, and you to help your student achieve and celebrate success • A learning plan created to fit your student’s unique needs and D.E.S.I.G.N Package, developed by a certified, experienced teacher. The plan will incorporate creative teaching methods that will build self-confidence and strengthen skills. • Individual attention in a small group setting (one to three students per group) with a trained and qualified instructor. These groups meet one to five times per week. Each session lasts 30 – 50 minutes, depending on the age of the student and recommendations from the classroom teacher: • On-going assessment of your student’s progress towards the objectives spelled out in the learning plan. • Regular communication with you to convey student’s progress, modifications of the learning plan, and ways you can help the student at home. Conferences may be requested at any time and phone calls/emails are returned in a timely fashion. • Transformed attitude towards school and learning as your child experiences success and begins to understand that he/she is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” We want your student to develop, utilize, and celebrate the strengths of his/her God-given D.E.S.I.G.N. package; understand that areas of weaknesses are only places where he/she may have to humbly depend on God or other people; and learn strategies that will help him/erh overcome or compensate for these weaknesses • Affordable prices. Lakewood students:  Private tutoring: $18 per session Small group: $12 per session   Non-lakewood students: Private tutoring: $25 per session Small group/home school fee: $18 per session “A learning plan designed with your child in mind.” 260-925-1393, ext. 237 or 227 5555 CR 29 Auburn, IN 46706 [veiw map] Reinforcing Foundational Skills Reading & Spelling This program is designed for those readers who need to establish a firm foundation in reading. Basic phonics rules, sight vocabulary, and reading fluency form the main components of this program. Your student will progress from easy to increasingly more difficult texts that build confidence and proficiency. Reading Applications This program is designed to increase your student’s reading ability by focusing on a variety of reading strategies such as advanced phonics, vocabulary development, structural analysis, context clues, and comprehension skills. Your student will not only read the words on the page, but fully grasp what the words and passage mean by learning to draw conclusions, make predictions, identify cause/effect relationships, find the main idea, and state the author’s purpose. Math Math Builder is a basic math course designed to fill in the skills your student is lacking, and then progress to grade-level and beyond math skills. Components include hands-on activities, memorizing math facts, applying math skills in real-life situations, and periodically reviewing skills to ensure retention. We start with basic math, fill in the gaps, and then move on to more complex skills. Math Applications includes tutoring in Algebra I and II, Geometry, and the higher-level math classes such as calculas and trigonometry. Language Arts Written communication is an essential skill that is needed in every subject area. We use the 6+1 Writing Traits framework to teach students the traits of good writing: (1) ideas and details (2) organization, (3) voice, (4) word choice, (5) sentence fluency, (6) conventions, and (7) presentation. The conventions trait includes spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraph formation which may be developed separately or in conjunction with a piece of writing. Study/Organizational Skills Students in grades 4 – 12 often need help with their study/organizational skills. Your student will identify components of his/her learning profile and then learn to use them effectively to do assignments, study for tests, and complete projects. They will learn how to read for information, take notes, study for tests, manage time and materials, use reference materials/sources, and establish goals. The student will often be held accountable for applying these skills in one subject area, although he/she will be able to apply these strategies in any subject. Special Needs Accommodations Some of our students have trouble learning because of a behavior or learning problem. Some have been formally evaluated through the public school, qualify for special education services, but are on service plans with us because the parents chose us over the services provided by the public school. Others have behavior plans and learning plans that accommodate their needs in the regular classroom for most of the day and allow them to work in the learning center for 30 – 50 minutes per day. We currently serve students with all variations of autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration problems, learning disabilities, OCD, ADHD, communication disorders, hearing impaired, visually impaired, and emotional problems. A speech and language pathologist does provide free services here for those who qualify for speech and other communication disorders. LSEC Instructors   LSEC Director/Instructor I knew from a very early age that God had called me to be a teacher. Because of His leading, I am extremely passionate and privileged to work with students of all ages and backgrounds. I believe that God created each one of us, and has given us unique abilities and talents that He wants us to use for Him, whatever that may be. In 1988, I graduated from Great Lakes Christian College with a degree in Religious Education and a minor in both English and Bible. In 1991, I completed my master’s in Elementary Education from Milligan College. I have teaching licenses from both Tennessee and Indiana, and over 14 years of experience. Since then, I have taught Kindergarten, first, second, and third grades; served as a team instructor for an undergraduate college class; substituted for Northwest, Southwest, and Dekalb County schools; offered private tutoring out of my home for 6 years, and worked as a teacher’s assistant for two years here at Lakewood prior to taking this position. I consider teaching to be my ministry. I want to be used by God to not only help students learn, but more importantly, to help them know they are loved by God and can have a personal relationship with Him. I live in Auburn with my wonderful husband of 18 years, and my daughter who attends High School here at Lakewood. I enjoy reading, volunteering at church, swimming, hiking, gardening, and all kinds of outdoor activities. Mrs. Sherrie Chambers schambers@lakewoodpark.org 260-925-1393 ext. 227   LSEC Lead Instructor Mrs. Jan Tabler Teaching is my passion and my ministry. It is such a blessing when God allows you to work where your passion lies. I grew up in Ohio, and in 1978, I graduated from Ohio University with a degree in education. I married a United States Army officer in 1979 and have one daughter. My first introduction to Christian education was in 1979. We were stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, where I taught in a Christian high school. For the next 22 years we moved numerous times throughout the United States and Germany. I have taught in the majority of those places, to include Heidelberg, Germany and Neu Ulm, Germany, in elementary, middle and high schools. Our first and last duty station was Fort Gordon, Georgia. I taught third grade both times. We moved to Fort Wayne in 2001 after my husband retired from the military. After moving to Fort Wayne, I taught third and fourth grades. In 2006, I began teaching in Learning Support at Lakewood, (formerly DESIGN) and at Ivy Tech State College. I have had the privilege of leading many students to Christ and discipling them. Academics are very important and students should be encouraged to do well because we should always give God our best. Christian education is about teaching the whole child; academically, spiritually and emotionally. Loving them and seeing them as Christ sees them is critical. jtabler@lakewoodpark.org 260-925-1393 ext. 237   LSEC Instructor Mrs. Kathy Bruns LSEC, formerly known as DESIGN, was established in 2003 by Mrs. Kathy Bruns. She also served as Lakewood’s elementary principal from 1998-2007. Since her retirement, Mrs. Bruns has enjoyed being a part-time instructor in the learning center at Lakewood, providing learning support and enrichment to a variety of students. As an elementary education major, her master’s degree focus was reading and special education. She has an Indiana teaching license and over 36 years experience in the field of education. She was a substitute teacher in Canada from 1975-1978; taught Kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade in the 1980’s; served as the executive director of the Steuben County Literacy Coalition for 12 years; volunteered as an ESL tutor; taught GED classes for adults before she became the elementary principal at Lakewood for nine years. Raised in Ohio, she now lives in Angola with her husband, Dave. She attends Fairview Missionary Church in Angola, where she helps Dave with men’s ministry events. Her daughter, Liz, graduated from Lakewood in 2004. Mrs. Bruns believes home, school, and church need to form a strong partnership in order to raise children to have a solid, biblical worldview, a heart submitted to Christ’s transforming power, and an understanding of their unique, God-given design. kbruns@lakewoodpark.org 260-925-1393 ext. 227   LSEC Instructor Mr. Tom Leitner I graduated from Huntington College in 2000 and after working as a substitute teacher in my hometown of Richmond, Indiana for a year, I have been at Lakewood Park since 2001. During my time here, I have taught 4th and 6th grade and coached the 6th grade boys basketball team. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in Elementary Math Education through Walden University. My wife, Maleah, and I attend the Auburn Church of Christ where I am involved on the Deacon Board. Growing up, I attended a small Christian elementary school and had always desired to return to Christian education when I graduated. Being at Lakewood gives me the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students by sharing the love of Christ with them and helping them grow in their physical, emotional, and spiritual maturity. tleitner@lakewoodpark.org LSEC Instructor Mrs. Barb Dusseau I started working in the Learning Support and Enrichment Center in 2009. I primarily work with Junior High and High School students who need extra help in mathematics. This includes students who struggle a great deal to pass math, as well as students who want to move from being a “B” student to an “A” student. I attended Michigan Tech University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. I also took extra courses to complete my Junior High and High School math certification. Upon graduation, I taught for two years in Missouri. The classes I taught were Calculus, Trigonometry, Algebra II, Geometry, 6th-8th grade math and Consumer Math. After having children, I opted to stay home and for the next several years tutored students in math at my home. I have also taught several home school children Algebra and Algebra II. I truly enjoy this subject and love to see students progress from being afraid of math to being confident that they can succeed in this subject. I also like to show students how important math is in their everyday lives and how much they actually use it without even realizing it. I count it a privilege to work with students in LSEC. bdusseau@lakewoodpark.org 260-925-1393 X 227   LSEC Instructor Mrs. Monica Witmer Mrs. Witmer grew up in a family of educators and realized, early on, that teaching was the occupation that best fit her talents and abilities. Mrs. Witmer received her degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood from Huntington University. After graduating from college, she taught in the Fort Wayne Community School System. When her husband’s job moved the family to Kentucky, Mrs. Witmer began teaching Kindergarten at Mount Sterling Christian School. After her children were born, Mrs. Witmer decided to stay home with them while they were young. Once her children were a little older, Mrs. Witmer began teaching first grade at Augusta Christian School in Augusta, Georgia. Currently, Mrs. Witmer is teaching elementary music at Lakewood where she is able to integrate music into other areas of the curriculum. She also tutors children of all grades, in the Learning Support and Enrichment Center, in a one-on-one or small group format. Mrs. Witmer believes that her roles here at Lakewood allow her to minister, encourage, and challenge students to reach their full potential. mwitmer@lakewoodpark.org 260-925-1393 X 227   The Learning Center also utilizes a number of volunteers who are either former teachers or have some educational experience. If you are interested in tutoring or helping with the Exploring Your Design camps, please contact Mrs. Chambers.