Sometimes a traditional classroom just isn’t the right setting for all students to be successful. For those with neurological and physical disorders, this same-old same old can be exceptionally challenging. That’s where the Whole Learning School (TWLS) in Plymouth offers a different kind of environment. “One of the big pieces for our students is that they all share a common need for more time,” head of school Ann Rooney says. “For the first time ever, they can actually take the time to breathe and to think about what they’re learning,” she says.
A typical day at TWLS, which was founded in 2003, begins with a mind-body workout, a combination of cardio and yoga that engages the system and stimulates students’ senses for a productive day. TWLS is a life skills school, so lessons are planned around developing skills the students can apply to their current lives and future occupations. “Our goal is for students to become strong, self-directed learners,” Rooney says.
The 16 students at TWLS are not grouped by age or grade, but rather based on where they are in learning a particular lesson. While one student might be learning to make change for a quarter, another learns to make change for a dollar. The process might be different, but the outcome is the same. American Sign Language, karate, drama and music (due to partnerships with the MacPhail Center for Music and Stages Theatre in Hopkins) make up the four specialist periods at TWLS and provide valuable opportunities for communication and self-expression. “We strongly believe that drama is critical to help our kids take a risk, find their voice and connect socially,” Rooney says, adding that several students have made the transition back into regular public schools after finding success at TWLS.
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12325 Hwy. 55
763.231.2700
Visit TWLS for the Possible Dreams Tour at 1 p.m. May 11.
