Summer Experience

For College-Bound Graduates and Rising High School Seniors With Learning Disabilities

Offered by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s acclaimed Regional Center for Learning Disabilities, with 30 years of experience helping students succeed in college-level studies. This non-residential program prepares recent high school graduates and rising seniors for the challenges of college-level coursework. It gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a college learning environment while developing their study, assistive technology, and self-advocacy skills.

Summer Experience Activities

Students participate in hands-on learning activities designed to help them:

  • Develop a better understanding of their learning strengths and weaknesses
  • Build stronger self-advocacy skills
  • Enhance their time management and organizational skills
  • Learn how to study more effectively and efficiently

The morning track includes academic instruction in:

  • Learning strategies based on understanding individual learning styles
  • Time management and organizational skills
  • Technology resources to help enhance learning based on a student’s learning differences
  • Career exploration
  • Writing instruction, including brainstorming; outlining techniques and narrowing topics identifying elements of an essay; revising and proofreading; and learning Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) style formats used in college
  • College essay preparation (if needed)

Morning (Required)

Session 1

Assistive Technology – 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

  • Technology resources to help enhance learning based on a student’s
    individual learning differences
  • Career exploration

Session 2

Writing – 10:15 AM to 11:30 PM

  • Writing instruction, including brainstorming; outlining techniques and
    narrowing topics; identifying elements of an essay; revising and
    proofreading, and learning Modern Language Association (MLA) and
    American Psychological Association (APA) style formats used in college
  • College essay preparation (if needed)

Session 3

Metacognitive Strategies – 11:30 PM to 12:30 PM

  • Learning strategies based on understanding individual learning strengths
    and weaknesses.
  • Time management and organizational skills.
  • Strategies to assist in memorization, note-taking, and listening skills.
  • Self-awareness, Self-advocacy, Self-determination.

 

LUNCH         12:30 – 1:00 pm

Afternoon

(Three specialized classes offered; $200 each – must sign up for the morning)

1-2 pm, 2-3 pm, 3-4 pm

(Sign up for of one, two or ALL three options)

CLASS ONE:  Orton Gillingham Reading

Direct, small group Orton Gillingham-based instruction

And/Or

CLASS TWO:  Developmental Math

Brush up on pre-algebra/algebra skills

Direct, small-group developmental instruction

And/Or

CLASS THREE: Writing

Session includes:  practice with thesis creation, enhancing vocabulary and descriptive writing, synthesizing non-fiction readings, critical analysis, analyzing, interpreting, and integrating quotations, responding to instructor feedback, and help with common grammatical errors.

"I enrolled to learn more about myself as a student. All my teachers were so patient and helpful. I was introduced to new strategies and study techniques that I will continue to use. My metacognitive class and math class were very helpful (even though I dislike math with a passion!). I loved the technology class!"
— FDU Student, Summer Experience
"I thought every lesson I did was helpful — particularly the writing class. The note-taking skills and writing skills I learned will be very useful in the future. I think this program has pointed me in the right direction in preparation for college."
— FDU Student, Summer Experience
"I feel the program helped me tremendously. It helped improve my writing and math skills and introduced me to some valuable tools, including Kurzweil, flash cards and test-taking strategies."
— FDU Student, Summer Experience
Contact Information
201-692-2716
ddennis@fdu.edu