Dreamcatcher Learning Center provides personalized assessment and quality instruction in the areas of reading, comprehension, math, spelling, and writing. Dreamcatcher Learning Center serves Boulder , Longmont , and all of the Boulder County community. We provide instruction to learners of all ages in small groups and individual (one-on-one) using SRA Direct Instruction , the only research validated methods of instruction available today.

We begin with a personalized assessment using the WRAT 4 (Wide Range Achievement Test).  This test determines a learner's grade level proficiency in reading, comprehension, spelling, and math so we can place the learner in the program at the appropriate level. We can also provide a language assessment to determine a learner's language age.  Research has suggested that a person's language age is an indicator of how successful they will be with learning.  Once placement is determined, the learner is then ready to begin lessons. 

Lessons are usually one hour long, but can run longer if desired. After the academic assessment, we will give you our recommendations as to how many times a week your learner should attend sessions, but it is ultimately your deicsion Dreamcatcher can provide one year's growth within 30 hours of instruction. We achieve this success 99.6% of the time.  

We are not just a tutoring service. We directly instruct each student giving them the skills they need so that they can become independent learners. Tutoring is simply band-aiding the problem. Direct Instruction permanently heals the problems. Our instructors teach students so that they can perform with academic independence.  However, we will take the first few minutes of a lesson to review a student's homework from school and help them with it.

The length of the program depends on the skill level of the learner, where you want them to be, and how many times a week they come for lessons. The more lessons they have in a week, the shorter their program will be. We generally see a year's growth in a single subject after 30 hours of instruction in that subject.

We also offer a study skills program that teach students critical thinking and organizational skills, as well as increasing their vocabulary.  Our methods have been shown to dramatically increase test scores. SAT and ACT study skills sessions are also available.

Our philosophy is that children can learn successfully, if taught carefully. We believe that success breeds success and that motivation is intrinsic.  Through our Direct Instruction program, students not only succeed academically but their self-esteem improves because they know they have learned and can learn. 

Most of our teachers are certified with an academic degree.  All of our teachers go through extensive training on how to teach direct instruction and are monitored with supervision and coaching throughout their employment.

Call 303-774-1818 for more information on testing and instruction rates or email us at dreamcatcherprep@aol.com

TESTING:

Dreamcatcher Learning Center tests by using the Wide Range Achievement Test 4 (WRAT4), developed by Gary S. Wilkinson, PhD and Gary J. Robertson, PhD. The WRAT4 test measures the basic academic skills of word reading, sentence comprehension, spelling, and math computation. The test is administered to individual students and in small groups for all ages from 5 years to adult and takes only approximately 35 to 45 minutes. Reliability evidence for the WRAT4 is shown to be strong and includes information based on classical test reliability theory, such as internal consistency, standard error of measurement, and standard score. Dreamcatcher Learning Center re-tests and assesses students after 30 hours of instruction to validate direct instruction advancement.

HISTORY:

Direct Instruction (DI) is a model for teaching that emphasizes well-developed and carefully planned lessons designed around small learning increments and clearly defined and prescribed teaching tasks. It is based on the theory that clear instruction eliminating misinterpretations can greatly improve and accelerate learning.

Its creators, Siegfried Engelmann and Dr. Wesley Becker and their colleagues believe and have proven that correctly applied, DI can improve academic performance as well as certain affective behaviors. It is currently in use in thousands of schools across the nation as well as in Canada , the UK and Australia . (National Institute for direct Instruction, www.nifdi.org )

Margo and Jerry Barnhart founded Dreamcatcher Learning Centers in 1994 to insure success for each learner through personalized assessment and quality instruction. In 1998, they changed the name to Dreamcatcher Direct Instruction Centers.  Margo holds a Doctorate of Education from Harvard (1991), was a superintendent, high school principal, director of pupil services, special education administrator, and elementary school teacher.  Jerry holds a Master of Arts Degree in special education from the University of Northern Colorado (1994).  He has successfully taught learners of all ages from pre-school through adults.

In 2004, Boulder Preparatory High School purchased Dreamcatcher Education Center of Longmont as a social enterprise. Boulder Preparatory High School has been using Direct Instruction for over nine years and students have had great success. Boulder Prep is an alternative charter high school serving non-traditional students. The school wanted to have a business that was aligned with its mission of educating youth. There are other Dreamcatcher centers in the area, but since this branch is a social enterprise for Boulder Prep, we are able to offer non-profit low-cost instruction.

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