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Academic Skills

An overhead view of a library with rows of books and shared study areas with low tables and comfortable chairs

The Academic Skills Office views its purpose as interconnected to identify formation, a process by which adolescents understand themselves and their place in the world.

As students cultivate their identity and garner a sense of belonging in an inclusive and academically rigorous environment, we are here to support the skill acquisition that will elevate and broaden their impact at Groton and beyond. The Office of Academic Skills is open to all.

Philosophy

We believe that skill acquisition is essential to adolescent development. In developing academic passions, students also develop personal habits. We invite students to reflect on personal habit formation in the service of tailoring a skill set that plays to their natural strengths. We hope this work prepares students for the future, and that they leave us with a stronger sense of who they are and what they need to thrive.

What We Do

The Academic Skills Office offers 1:1 support for any student interested in developing executive functioning skills related to organization and time management, planning, prioritizing, study skills, note-taking, writing skills, self-advocacy in the academic environment, and test-taking strategies. Students can drop-in or be referred to our office and can schedule meetings by appointment or on a recurring basis.

The Academic Skills Office oversees the Peer Tutor Program at Groton. The Peer Tutor Program is a student-run collaborative that relies on the work of a manager, coordinators, and peer tutors. The manager acts as a conduit between a member of the Academic Skills Office and the coordinators to ensure that the program runs smoothly. Coordinators act as a bridge between peer tutors and students in search of academic support. Peer tutors work directly with their peers in any academic subject offered at Groton. The Peer Tutor Program at Groton believes that students can and should fulfill roles that promote leadership, autonomy, and support of one another.

The Academic Skills Office writes Student Learning Plans for those students with documented disabilities. The SLP addresses student needs and outlines reasonable accommodations to be implemented in the academic setting.

The Academic Skills Office conducts meetings with students to discuss goals and accommodations for individuals with Student Learning Plans. Students receiving accommodations must attend an initial meeting as well as bi-annual reviews. 

The Academic Skills Office partners in overseeing the implementation of reasonable accommodations across disciplines for students diagnosed with a disability, as well as those experiencing a temporary disability. 

The Academic Skills Office partners with the College Office to make standardized test accommodation requests through the College Board and ACT for the PSAT, SAT, AP, and ACT District and National tests for students who receive accommodations via a Student Learning Plan.

The Academic Skills Office is in regular communication with the College Office, the Counseling Office, and the Deans’ Offices. 

Meet the Office