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Frequently
Asked Questions
What is your
Vision?
Assisting parents in educating their children by providing a forum for
students to exchange ideas and to motivate them toward leadership, academic
achievement and Godly character.
Are you accredited?
TLE is accredited in Georgia through GAC, Georgia Accrediting Commission
(visit their web site on http://www.coe.uga.edu/gac/).
In addition, students interested in a general high school diploma with
fewer than 23 credits may enroll with NARHS, the North American Regional
High School who also provide nationally recognized high school diplomas.
- a High School diploma
from TLE is recognized by colleges in GA and by HOPE Scholarship fund
- At TLE we offer
students the necessary curriculum to reach 23+ high school credits (for
NARHS 17.5 credits)
- For home educated
children with competency developed using non-accredited curriculum,
a TLE diploma can include such courses after appropriate evaluation.
The student is required to be enrolled one school year at TLE.
What courses
are offered at TLE?
TLE offers all courses required for an accredited diploma. (See
Course Curriculum)
How is TLE
The Learning Exchange different?
TLE
is a One Room School House for the 21 st Century. This means:
- students enrolled
in 5 th-12 th grade enjoy a multi-level environment. This entices students
to excel at a more rapid rate.
- all students are
divided up into teams with a distribution of grade levels and learning
styles. Negative peer pressure is replaced by positive role models.
- mature high school
students are appointed mentors of their team (extra credits) Preparation
for adult responsibility.
- our goal is to relieve TLE families from homework. This means that the students will be doing their homework at school under supervision and with access to support. This means that when they are picked up they can spend the evening being a kid, with their family.
Note: The One Room
School House grew the most educated population in the U.S. history
Individualized/flexible
schedule
- students meet one to four days per week. The days students do not have
classes they are expected to complete assignments at home.
- High school students
enrolled in a two day program are expected to work independently at
home (a perfect training for college life) spending an average of 4-8
hours in homework per day. They will receive a homework schedule for
these days.
- Students in a four
day program will have limited homework with the exception of
literature reading and special assignments.
Accelerated learning
is encouraged
Three to four high school credits per semester are assigned. However,
students ar e encouraged to reach their fullest potential as expressed
in quality of work and additional assignments. Students who completed
extra assignments have reached as many as 7 credits in a single semester.
Individual attention
in a class room setting
In the beginning of each school year each student is tested according
to his/her style to think, learn and sense, utilizing various renowned
tests. We then divide the students in teams with a balance of styles in
order for them to learn how to glean from one another's strength. The
curriculum is also set up to allow each student to build on his/her learning
strength while allowing them to grow in their weak areas. All in all,
our students within a year will have excelled in confidence and character.
 Sensory rich learning environment
The Learning Exchange is designed to give the students a sensory rich
environment. Specifically this means that the students have a 2 acre green
"play ground" with all the usual tools for soccer, basket ball
etc. But what is even more important it has swings, most popular in all
ages; tire swings, trees for tree climbing, a cherry tree they take care
of, a garden for growing vegetables and a flower patch for their favorite
flower. Why is this so important? Recent research has shown that children's
brain need a multi level sensory input in order to grow. Too much of computer
games, in house activities, will stifle the kids. We can see what happens
in our play ground. It may not look like an institutional building but
the impact on the students is something that can only be experienced -
see their smiling faces.
Best of two worlds
Parents often have to choose between two extremes: be totally responsible
for their children's education -- home schooling vs. loosing all control
when enrolling them in a school. The Learning Exchange combines the best
of these worlds: you as parents are still in control and can change assignments,
adjust expectations while at the same time have all the training done
by experienced teachers, who share your values.
How do you
accommodate New Students’ specific gaps in subject areas?
New students are eased into the TLE environment. They select the course alternative of their choice in language, math, science. If by any chance they already have taken that course they can be TA=teaching assistant which entails leadership training and tuition reduction.
TLE’s Summer
school is also a possible way for students who either wants to catch up, get ahead or take a high school course they are missing.
What about testing?
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Students participate in standardized testing (ACIS requirement)
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Learning Style assessment – DISC profile-
Skill tests in math, reading comprehension, etc
- Students are not
required to take exit exams or other state sponsored tests, which take
away tim e better utilized in student training.
What kind
of students benefit from attending The Learning Exchange ?
- Home schooled children who want a safe "school" or where their
parents do not feel that they can meet their academic needs. TLE is a
small, accredited school with flexible schedule and with outreach activities
and field trips often valued by home schooling families.
- Gifted children
who do not feel that their current school can accommodate their need for
accelerated learning. There is nothing that will hold them back from doubling
or tripling up on their schedule. The only thing that can hold them back
is the individual student's own commitment. The support is there for them
when they need it. In addition, the new products from Gateway, TX, with
proven strong improvement in SAT scores, speed reading and study skills
are other reasons gifted students come to TLE.
- Students with mild
learning differences, often "rejected" from other schools. The
individual attention, de emphasizing grade level and emphasizing skill
level, integration of sensory stimulating tools like the tire swing, the
flexible schedule tuning in to their individual needs and of course a
supporting student body are some reasons these students are attracted
to TLE and excel here.
- Students who have
tried everything else, but have not found the right school yet. Well,
for them a safe, nurturing environment with a belief that all children
are gifted but not all children are the same, flexible schedule, and a
passion from teachers to give them the very best can be some reasons why
they excel.
What kind
of students do not benefit from attending The Learning Exchange?
In general, we believe that TLE is beneficial for all students. We believe
it is the very best that is out there -- a unique learning experience.
The challenge is that there are certain students that although they want
to join TLE will have such a negative influence on the student body that
they should not attend. They fall in one of two categories.
Students who are rebellious,
not accepting authorities - your or ours - and subsequently think that
they know best. Often these students have been involved with or exposed
to drugs or violence and they have not been willing to take a stand against
it. We have found that they take away so much attention from the rest
of the class, not to speak of the fact that they influence some of the
other students to rebel against their parents as well. Those students,
in our opinion, should choose a school with a rigid environment especially
designed for those kind of students.
Although we can accommodate
and have great success with students with learning differences, The Learning
Exchange is not a special ed school. Therefore, if a student has major
learning difficulties, we recommend them to address those difficulties
prior to joining TLE. Our student body love and care for one another,
and they will be readily accepted, but they need to be generally functioning
in a social environment.
Do you offer
individual tutoring?
Yes, we do. The students are tutored individually during class, after
class on a come as you go basis. But for those students with a need for
a more scheduled tutoring sessions, we will accommodate them in the subject
of their choice. As the tutoring sessions continue teachers may change
in order to better meet the individual student's need. The price per tutoring
hour is currently $30.
During the summer
period, June 1 - July 31, tutoring and classes are offered in all High
School level courses, and primarily in math and English for middle school
students.
Do you have
a summer program ?
Yes we do. In addition to offer tutoring services to individual students,
often packaged to achieve a certain high school credit, or to allow the
student to catch up to jump a class level, we offer a summer camp that
has a different focus each year according to expressed needs. For more
details please look at the home page.
Do you offer electives?
Yes we do. Every year we have new offerings. This coming school year we offer leadership training and business management. In addition, interested students will accumulate community service hours in our outreach program.
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