Empowering Your Independence
Brewster Academy is a recognized leader in creating personalized, flexible academic support that helps every student thrive. Your customized Instructional Support (IS) program recognizes your talents while helping you acquire the skills and strategies you’ll need to become an independent, lifelong learner. IS at Brewster isn’t just tutoring—it’s a comprehensive approach to empowering your independence. No other school supports students quite like Brewster.
What Sets IS at Brewster Apart?
IS empowers you to make the most of your Brewster education by helping you understand yourself as a learner and prepare for the academic expectations you’ll face here and in college. It is …
Personalized
There is no “off-the-shelf” IS program at Brewster. Your IS program is tailored to your unique needs and goals, beginning with a thorough review of your application materials during the admission process to help us understand your strengths and needs. Instruction is individualized toward your specific areas of need. Your program adapts as you build skills and confidence.
Strategy-based
The focus is on building strategies for academic success tailored to your challenges and goals. IS focuses on helping you understand yourself as a learner, build on your talents, and implement unique strategies to address the specific challenges you face in areas such as reading, writing, oral expression, organization, planning, time management, attention, and self-advocacy.
Integrated
IS classes are embedded in your daily schedule, and IS classrooms are located within your academic team area rather than in a separate learning center—making your IS teacher easily accessible. Your IS teacher is a member of your teaching team, and advocates for you in regular meetings with other members of the team.
Levels of Support
Comprehensive Skill Plan (CSP)
The Comprehensive Skill Plan (CSP) is Brewster’s most comprehensive plan and is for students whose needs require frequent, ongoing involvement with a teacher. This plan includes meetings with a teacher and one other student three times a week with a focus on determined learner goals, classroom support, and progress monitoring. Students in the CSP receive intensive assistance with study and organizational skills, reading, and/or writing. The best practice approaches employed by the program are integrated with the delivery of the subject curriculum in all areas.
Instructional Assistance Plan (IAP)
The Instructional Assistance Plan (IAP) is for students who require additional support to maximize success in the Brewster curriculum. This plan includes meetings between the student and teacher twice a week, classroom support and monitoring, as well as individualized instruction in study and organizational skills, reading, and/or writing. The best practices approach employed by the program is integrated with the delivery of the subject curriculum in all areas.
Transition Assistance Plan (TAP)
The Transition Assistance Plan (TAP) is for students who have demonstrated a level of independence and are looking for increased consistency. The student’s needs are monitored weekly to ensure the skills and strategies they have learned are being applied within their curriculum with a high level of consistency. This plan is designed for the student and teacher to meet once a week to review progress and provide the student with feedback that assists in accomplishing the goal of independence from a support plan.
Learning is Collaborative
IS at Brewster provides an ongoing cycle of continuous evaluation and improvement. Your teachers are fully invested in your growth and achievement.
Instructional Support Brochure"Instructional Support at Brewster teaches students the skills they need to be successful on their own without tutoring."
Student Voices
Alistair F.
Maggie D.
Mason D.
Ben W.
Alistair F.
Maggie D.
Mason D.
