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14 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2022 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Gets to the Root of Students' Learning Struggles Learning is a human skill that looks a little bit different for every individual. When children have learning differ- ences that cause them to struggle in traditional school settings, they stand to benefit from an educational approach that targets the specific ways in which their brain processes information differently from others. This kind of customized experience exists in Spotsylvania County at The Marshall School. The Marshall School focuses on helping children from kindergarten to 12th grade build the learning and think- ing strategies needed for a lifetime of learning and real- world success. The school's smaller environment and customized learning programs are good for all children and have been found to be particularly helpful for chil- dren diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, auditory process- ing disorders, learning disabilities, and executive func- tion disorders. Director Christina Carson founded The Marshall School and its part- ner tutoring center, Learning Enhancement Centers, after becoming frustrated in her career as a public-school special education teacher. She saw schools using Band-Aid approaches to pass children through grades while never addressing the underlying issues that were causing them to struggle with academics. "Whereas the public schools accommodate and modify the activities for the student, we are trying to fix what is causing the problem in the first place," Carson says. "We are trying to correct the problem, not just treat the symptom. If they can't read, we aren't just read- ing the material to them. We are identifying the specific breakdown that is interfering with their ability to read and working to improve that area. That is the most important thing that distinguishes us." Children do not need to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to enroll at The Marshall School; however, the school does not spe- cialize in behavioral or emotional disorders. THE MARSHALL SCHOOL THE MARSHALL SCHOOL Virtual open houses give parents a chance to explore this unique K-12 school