Practicum: Dealing with Learning Challenges within the Classroom
Coaching Struggling Students:
Helping Every Student Thrive in the Classical Classroom
Whether you’re a seasoned classical educator or new to the classroom, this session will provide you with the wisdom, tools, and confidence to serve every student well.
Pre-conference | Wednesday, June 18 | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Practicums are offered in-person only.
In every classical classroom, teachers encounter students with a range of abilities, challenges, and learning needs. Classical Christian education, with its rigorous and intentional approach, must also be adaptable, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage, grow, and succeed within the curriculum. This practicum provides teachers with practical tools for recognizing, supporting, and discipling struggling students—whether it’s a mild reading disability or comprehension issue, to a more complex issue like autism—while maintaining academic integrity and a Christ-centered learning environment.
Led by Heather Lloyd, who works with over 35 Classical Christian schools—each committed to educating students of all learning abilities and diagnoses—this session equips teachers to:
- navigate the complexities of learning struggles without compromising the high standards of a classical education
- identify academic, behavioral, cultural, and emotional challenges
- partner effectively with parents
- disciple students in both academic and behavioral growth
- foster a classroom culture that upholds excellence while providing individualized support
How will this practicum be structured?
Through case studies, practical strategies, and interactive discussions, this practicum will help educators create structured, yet flexible classrooms where students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to develop perseverance, diligence, and a love of learning. Teachers will leave with concrete strategies to modify assessments, communicate with families, and cultivate a classroom culture that values both academic excellence and the unique needs of each learner.
I. Recognizing the Struggling Learner | 9:00-10:00
- Identifying signs of academic, behavioral, cultural, and emotional struggles
- Differentiating between learning disabilities, trauma, executive function challenges, gaps in foundational skills, discipline issues, and lack of work ethic.
- Understanding the impact of classroom structure on struggling learners
- Case studies: Recognizing different types of struggling learners
II. Communicating with Parents | 10:00-10:30
- Partnership with parents
- Effective communication strategies: balancing grace and truth
- Documenting concerns and progress to build trust
- Case studies: communication examples
Break (15 mins)
III. Working with the Struggling Learner – Discipling Behavior | 10:45-12:00
- Grace without compromising the learning environment
- Discipleship plan parent meeting
- Stairstep discipline plans & procedures
- Case Studies
(12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch Break)
IV. Working with the Struggling Learner – Discipling Academics | 1:00-2:00
- Organizing class structure to work with all students
- Individualizing instruction without lowering standards
- Targeted rubrics
- Case Studies
V. Recognizing needs beyond the classroom | 2:00-2:30
- When the classroom isn’t enough
- Cognitive support & Physical support
- Diagnosis support
- Case Studies
Break (15 mins)
VI. Discipling the Culture of Classroom with the Struggling Learner | 2:45-3:30
- Teaching students to care for and support their struggling peers
- Building a classroom culture of patience, perseverance, and encouragement
- Guiding struggling learners toward a biblical understanding of work and diligence
- Case Studies
