Instructional Program Information

We use materials and programs that provide a systematic approach to overcoming learning difficulties. The program is tailored to fit each student’s individual needs through regular review and testing. The following are the primary national teaching methods that are used in the program.
Orton-Gillingham—This methods-based approach was specifically designed to teach reading to children with dyslexia. (more...)
F.A.S.T. Learning (Foundations of Analysis, Synthesis, Translation)—Developed by Stephen P. Tatum. F.A.S.T. Reading is a synthesis of whole language and phonetic instructional techniques. (more...)
Direct Instruction—A research-based approach that has been proven to be the most effective method for teaching all children, but especially those who are experiencing learning difficulties. (more...)
REWARDS™—A reading and writing program for children from 4th grade up through adults. It's very successful with students who have trouble learning to read and are feeling frustrated as a consequence. (more...)

Hill Center Methodology™—A program developed at the Hill Learning Development Center that emphasizes a systematic approach to learning. Children are assessed in each content area and instruction is based directly on their test performance. (back...)

The Hill Center Methodology™ is a program developed at the Hill Learning Development Center in Durham, NC. The Hill Center Methodology is a systematic approach to academic remediation. The Hill Center offers a half- day program for children with Learning Disabilities and ADD. Students attend for their core subjects, reading, writing and math. The curriculum is based on a scaffolding approach to learning. Children are assessed in each content area and instruction is based directly on their test performance. Children also work toward mastery of each skill and are constantly reviewing to maintain skills that are mastered. The children work in small groups of three to four students. Each student is working at their level since instruction is based on assessment results. For instance, if a child was given a test in simple addition of single digit numbers and the child consistently scored correctly on the computation problems but incorrectly on addition story problems, then instruction would begin with word problem strategies for addition, and subtraction would not be introduced until addition was mastered. This is a comprehensive program that has had positive results for students with learning differences.

The Hill Center's applied behavioral analysis form of instruction as been described as systematic techniques for academic remediation. The Hill Center's techniques are built on sound field research. Precision Teaching uses direct measurement of student progress along with analysis of student skills. This approach strives to indiviualized instruction to realize a student's potential by developing strengths, remediating weaknesses and helping them to experience success.

The Five Principals of the Hill Center's Approach

  1. Multisensory Approach: use visual, auditory and kinesthetic channels simultaneously, use as many of the channels as possible to strengthen modalities, utilize weak as well as strong modalities.
  2. Sequential Progression: Use task analysis to break skills into small steps, teach skill to mastery, achieve automatic competency on each skill.
  3. Mastery Approach: introduce and practice skill daily, incorporates repetition to promote overlearning, review skills to maintain mastery.
  4. Immediate Feedback: Be specific about student responses, make feedback immediate, correct errors as soon as possible to avoid error repetition.
  5. Learning Strategies: Use prompts, cues and mnemonic devices, utilize subvocalization to enhance memory, employ devices invented by child to learn skill.