A key component of Fraser Academy is to help every student of ours with a goal of moving on to post-secondary education achieve that aspiration. That said, there are some basic tenets that students with learning differences must master if they are going to "move on" successfully. So here, for thwith, are the first four of Mrs Steltman's Rules: how to succeed at post-secondary institutions with a learning challenge.

Rule 1: Attend every class. Those of us with dyslexia have enough trouble keeping up; don't compound it by skipping class. If you're absent due to sickness, let your prof know in advance by email, and catch up by talking to him or her about what you missed, or by getting notes from a conscientious student who was in class.

Rule 2: Learn to manage your workload. Just because you may not be able to handle every bit of content in a course doesn't mean you can't succeed. Ask yourself, "What am I realistically capable of doing, and how can I achieve what is expected of me?" If you struggle with reading, don't give up-find strategies that work. For example, read the summary first, then the intro and conclusion, then fill in the gaps.

Rule 3: Know the value of every assignment. Those of us with learning difficulties need to be strategic. When you know what each assignment is worth, you can then spend the proportionate time on it. This is straight math: if a final essay is worth 30% of your grade, then spend 30% of your time on it. Don't fall into the trap of spending more time on an assignment than is warranted––especially if it's only only worth 5% or 10% of your overall grade.

Rule 4: Finish every assignment. Don't be lazy-and don't be a perfectionist, either. Make sure you get every assignment done and in on time. You'll never lose marks for effort.