Empowering students with language-based learning differences
Siena Blog
News
The Siena School Blog
Discover, Learn, Celebrate, and Empower
Welcome to Siena's blog, your source for helpful, cutting-edge resources tailored to teachers, parents, and other advocates in the learning differences community. We are dedicated to providing a wealth of curated knowledge spanning various topics, ranging from dyslexia advocacy and awareness to classroom teaching strategies, heritage month profiles, and social and emotional health.
Black History Month 2025
February 04, 2025
The Black History Month 2025 theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on how different types of work are central to Black culture and history. For this important month, Siena is sharing some book and podcast recommendations to reinforce the important intellectual labor of these artistic and cultural contributions to the Black experience.
See the Association for the Study of African American Life and History for a wealth of information about Black History Month, including upcoming events and past and future themes.
Recent Books from Black Authors
- Jayne Allen, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted
- Marcia Brissett-Bailey (ed.), Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic
- Percival Everett, James
- Ijeoma Oluo, Be a Revolution
- Kiley Reid, Come and Get It
- Safiya Sinclair, How to Say Babylon: A Memoir
- Zadie Smith, The Fraud
- Colson Whitehead, Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto
See also this list of Moving Nonfiction by Black Authors from Penguin Random House, including A Visible Man, Legacy, and Four Hundred Souls.
Black Podcast Recommendations
Need to add some podcasts to your playlist? Have a look at these selections for some podcasts about various contemporary and historical topics:
- 100 Best Black Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025
- Best Black Podcasts (2025) - Goodpods
- Black People Podcast - TheGrio
See also Daily Border Crossings, hosted by Siena’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Samantha Fletcher.
Additional Resources for Families
Past blog posts for Black History Month can be found here, including a feature on Siena’s community playlist from 2024. This crowdsourced music (available on Spotify) grew out of a student-generated playlist from their weekly multicultural affinity group, with some additional recommendations from Siena faculty and staff.
See also some other Heritage Month spotlights about Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, Women’s History Month 2024, and Native American Heritage Month 2023. Learn more about Siena’s commitments and ongoing initiatives for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging here.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, proudly serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).
Posted in
Parents and Community
How Outdoor Recess Benefits Students
January 24, 2025
Outdoor recess and physical activity have always been crucial parts of the school day at Siena.
By keeping up with relevant research, Siena has made specific choices of playground equipment to benefit our population of students with language-based learning differences. Such intentionality ensures that our students at all three Siena campuses are regularly practicing their fine and gross motor skills, physical and mental flexibility, creativity, and much more on the playground.
Brain and Body Development on the Playground
Alongside the cardiovascular work of outdoor activities as a physical outlet for excess energy, there are numerous benefits for adolescents inside and outside the classroom. All three Siena campuses have plenty of open outdoor space for these and other games, including imaginative play.
In addition, Siena’s Satellite campus for grades 3 and 4 has a new climbing and slide playground and Gaga ball pit to keep our young learners moving and collaborating.
Our Northern Virginia campus regularly has outdoor PE and other activities (e.g., yoga), and our Forest Glen campus recently installed a climbing structure and Gaga ball pit. Getting elementary and middle schoolers outside regularly helps all of our students work their bodies and their brains.
Occupational therapists especially value climbing for adolescents’ brain development, social-emotional learning, and a host of other skills:
Decision making and problem solving in the moment: “As children climb, they need to make decisions, solve problems, and even visualize the solution: What will it take for me to get to the top? Do I have to put my hand or foot in a specific place to move upward?” (The Genius of Play)
Collaboration and Communication: “By exploring a climbing structure and working together with other children to forge a path to the top, many young climbers learn valuable lessons about teaching, listening, and communicating” (Luckey Climbers)
Controlled Risk-Taking: “Climbing also provides a thrilling experience that feels risky to kids. Giving them opportunities to enjoy the excitement of perceived risk can help build their confidence and independence” (Miracle Recreation)
Spatial Awareness: “As this skill is practiced [while climbing] children become better at navigating the surface they are climbing, making them more efficient to get up and down and safer. They learn where their body is, how they can use their body on the surface to climb, and begin to learn ways to avoid falling” (Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy)
Research on the Benefits of Play for Children
There is a lot of research available on the benefits of climbing and other forms of outdoor physical activity. For more information, see:
- 7 Elements of Play & How They Impact Learning In The Classroom Element
- 4 Ways Climbing Boosts Kids' Development
- Climbing is the Perfect Activity for Your Kids
- The Importance of Climbing in Child Development
- The Importance of Climbing for Kids
- Key Benefits of Climbing for Children
- University of North Florida, Science Daily
Additional Resources for Families
See the Siena blog’s Parents and Community section for more pieces of interest for young learners, including Why Is Early Intervention Important? and Common Acronyms in LD Education.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).
Posted in
Parents and Community
College Prep Begins in High School
January 15, 2025
Without the guidance of teachers and the Siena community, I wouldn’t have developed the skills and tools necessary for success. - Ozzie, Siena Class of ‘24
A high school curriculum tailored to LD students’ needs is especially important in offering an academically rigorous, supportive learning environment.
We’re taking this opportunity to highlight what Siena offers as part of our regular high school curriculum—such as counseling, test preparation, and overall college readiness—to best prepare our students for their next academic step.
Siena’s high school program at our campuses in Silver Spring, MD, and Oakton, VA, focuses on our mission and supports our high school students and families in various ways.
Preparing High School Students for College and Future Careers
A cornerstone of Siena’s high school curriculum is the multi-year college counseling program and dedicated college counselor and internship coordinator. These deliberate curricular choices guide students through all four years of high school to break down the process of applying to and then attending college.
Highlights of our scaffolded program include:
- Specializing in sciences, arts, or other areas of strength to pursue a particular field of interest in a deep, thoughtful, and rigorous manner
- Exploring potential colleges and majors and making the most of visits from college reps
- Participating in a robust internships program that allows students to follow a field or job opportunity of interest for each year of high school
- Following a structured application timeline with individualized support at each step
- Preparing for standardized tests and guidance on how to help students stand out in their applications
- Writing and revising college application essays as part of class
- Receiving merit scholarship offers (Most recently, Siena's Class of 2024 was offered $6,704,800 over 4 years in merit scholarships by the various colleges they applied to.)
- Guidance on selecting a supportive learning center at the college level
Such intentional design embeds opportunities for students to explore the interests they are most passionate about in high school. In addition, this develops their overall college preparedness, ranging from how to approach a writing assignment to requesting accommodations and using faculty office hours.
By the end of 10th grade, I [...] had developed strong relationships with both my teachers and peers. This made it easier for me to manage my workload with all the support around me and it made me stretch myself into other opportunities offered by Siena. - Jude, Siena Class of ‘24
College Prep and Admissions Resources
Families wanting to ensure college preparedness can review some recent articles on current college admissions trends, such as:
- Campus to Career Crossroads (2024)
- College Data (2024)
- College Matchpoint 2024
- College Matchpoint 2025
- Passion Prep (2024)
- Top Tier Admissions (2024)
These and other resources typically outline some key skills colleges look for in their applicants, such as collaboration, social awareness, and leadership.
Dyslexia Resources for Families
Families in the LD community can read some recent blog posts about dyslexia, including Dyslexia Reading and Podcast Recommendations and Building Confidence in LD Students.
The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).
Posted in
Parents and Community
Recent Posts
Categories
Archives
Weather Updates