Academic Support

Early Bird Tutors is an academic intervention program available to all Deerfield High School students. EBTA is designed to support the classroom teacher in developing students’ study habits, organizational skills, and personal accountability toward school work. Volunteer tutors work with referred students on a one-to-one basis two mornings a week from 7:20 am until 8:05 am. EBTA is not intended as a substitute for the teacher’s instructional responsibilities, nor is the program disciplinary or punitive in nature. EBTA is structured to focus on students who have grades of 70% (C-) or lower, and who are having difficulty maintaining class expectations.

Sophomore Mentors The English Department’s Sophomore Mentor Program is a positive, one-on-one peer tutoring program designed specifically for freshman or sophomore English students who are experiencing academic difficulties. English instructors recommend students as potential mentors based on each student’s academic performance and attitude.  Sophomore Mentors offer specific help related to writing/reading and speaking/listening assignments given by the English instructor. Furthermore, mentors model effective time management, organization, and study skills for freshmen/sophomores referred to the program. The focus of the individualized assistance is to help the student gain “study confidence” as they meet the challenges of the curriculum.  Sophomore Mentors will meet with their tutees either during the Early Bird time slot (from 7:20 am through 8:05 am) or during a free period in the WERCS complex during the school day. Mentors generally meet with their tutees at least twice each week. 

See your classroom teacher for more information about Early Bird Tutoring and Sophomore Mentoring.

Learning Assistance Program (LAP)

The Learning Assistance Program is designed to provide informal structured support and learning-style assessment to students with poor study and organizational skills, difficulty completing assignments consistently, and multiple D and/or E grades.  The program is a pre-screening intervention designed to identify and address factors that contribute to a lack of success with the secondary level curricula.  Students participating in  LAP may meet with a specially trained teacher up to two periods each week and may work to learn and apply study/organizational strategies based on their observed learning style.  Specific goals are set by a problem solving team that includes the parents.  Strategies for active studying and effective test taking are addressed, and students learn to become more independent learners through managing a system of organization and progress monitoring.  A student’s progress in the program is routinely evaluated in order to consider the potential need for additional support.

See your counselor for more information about the Learning Assistance Program.