“Our child has a developmental disability that strongly interferes with his ability to learn. Literally at the end of our ropes with no place to turn, we came across The Whole Learning School. In the last eleven weeks he has shown remarkable progress. Just last night he read to me for the first time and his confidence and willingness to complete homework have gone through the roof.”

~Dolly, TWLS Parent

Individualized Instruction for Challenged Learners

The Whole Learning School (TWLS) was founded in 2003 as a nonprofit, non-public school for children with unique learning styles. It was created for students with learning challenges who are not successful in traditional school models because they require specialized instruction to realize maximum skill attainment. TWLS is the only day school in the Twin Cities that specializes in serving children with cross-categorical developmental and learning disabilities.

TWLS teaches the whole child by addressing the academic, social and emotional concerns of each student with nurturing, innovative and challenging programs. The curriculum combines essential academic skills and practical life and social skills with the goal that students will graduate from high school and have the tools they need to hold a job and live as independently as possible. Located in eastern Plymouth and with excellent access to all major freeways, TWLS serves students from across the Twin Cities who have disabilities such as, but not limited to:

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Pervasive developmental disability
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Nonverbal learning disorder
  • Specific learning disabilities
  • Sensory integration disorder
  • Traumatic brain injury

Hear from our founder, as well as parents, students, and faculty:

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Want more information?  Please click here for a downloadable TWLS fact sheet, or here to read more success stories.

Updates from our blog

  • Reading Instruction at TWLS, Part 3

    March 10, 2010

    Post by Ann Rooney

    Welcome back for Part 3 of our ongoing series on TWLS’s Core Academics and reading programs.  Last week we talked about phonemic awareness, what it means, and how it differs from the more commonly-discussed subject of phonics.  This week, we’re going to look directly at phonics.  Phonics teaches children the relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language. It is the sound symbol relationship we use to read and write words. Scientific based research concludes that the use of a systematic direct instruction approach is particularly beneficial for students having difficulty learning to read.

    More…

  • TWLS in the News!

    We’re delighted to note that today there’s a great profile of TWLS in the Star-Tribune.  Head of School Ann Rooney and TWLS parent Kate Heegaard Hartfiel spoke with the Star-Tribune about the unique advantages of TWLS for every one of our students - we accept only those students who we believe we can help, and then we exert all of our creativity to meet each of those students’ learning needs and preferred learning styles.

  • Weekly Highlights: March 8-12

    March 9, 2010

    This week, check in with our teachers for some great highlights, outdoors photos, and a Learning Made Fun tip for blending spelling and fishing!
    More…

 

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