As the school year winds down, many parents begin to wonder: How can I best support my child over the summer without it feeling overwhelming? At NOLA Learning Support, we see summer as a valuable window—one where students can slow down, revisit foundational skills, and make meaningful progress in reading and writing. Without the daily pressures of school, students often feel more relaxed and open to learning, which allows us to target areas of challenge with greater focus and

This summer, we are excited to offer a middle school Zoom book club centered around Gone to Drift by Diana McCaulay. This powerful novel follows Lloyd, a boy searching for his grandfather, a fisherman lost at sea, while uncovering deeper questions about family, responsibility, and the environment. Set in Jamaica, the story offers students a rich sense of place and meaningful themes to explore together. This group is also designed to bring Jamaican and American students toget

Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good. — Malcolm Gladwell As we head into summer, I often hear the same question: How long will it take to improve my child’s reading skills? This quote above captures my answer. Growth in reading does not happen overnight. It comes from consistent, supported practice over time. It’s not about natural ability—it’s about building skills through steady effort. The encouraging news is that mean

Mom and little Kate - Paicines Ranch, California 1970's Learning Again: Why Encouragement Matters by Katharine Law Novak When was the last time you started something new and truly felt vulnerable— like a beginner again? Did you have someone beside you guiding you? Most of the time when adults learn something new, it is because we choose to. It grows out of a personal interest or a professional goal. We arrive motivated and invested. Yet every day we ask students to show up re

We are wishing all of our families a joyful Mardi Gras. Next week we will be in Treasure Beach, Jamaica — a place that feels like an extension of home — spending time with dear friends and checking in on the community after last year’s Category 5 hurricane. We continue to hear how much your kindness and support meant, and it’s a reminder that the connections we share extend far beyond New Orleans. It is a resilient and deeply caring place. After we return on February 24, we w

by Katharine Law Novak Please scroll to the bottom if you want fundaraiser information. On Jamaica’s south coast — a place we hold so dear, in the close-knit community of Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth — families are facing unimaginable loss. Just sixteen months after Hurricane Beryl devastated the region, another Category 5 storm has torn through the same coastline, destroying homes, farms, schools, and the fishing villages that sustain local life. Power and water remain out

We are so happy to be home from a family trip to our home away from home, Treasure Beach, Jamaica! We had a great time with our children...

Dear Families, Thank goodness for snowballs, swimming pools and summer rain to cool us down! Over the past several weeks, we have truly...

In February, my father and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the African continent and spend 10 days in the country of...

Hello! Spring Break is upon us and soon it will be summer! I am busy working on end of year assessments with my students to come up with...

Good afternoon! We have wanted to host parent events for a long time and with our beautiful new offices, we now have a great opportunity...

Spring Greetings! We have made it through a snowstorm and Mardi Gras and now spring has arrived. Festival season is on the way! As many...

Dear Friends, As you may know, Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, holds a special place in our hearts. Over the past few years, it...

November Greetings! We had a wonderful trip last week. We were fortunate to be asked by our friend, Jason Henzell, owner of Jake's...

For decades, reading instruction has been a highly debatable topic that has impacted so many lives. Finally, evidence and research based...

Today, more than 30 million students struggle to read. By fourth grade, 65% of them are reading below proficiency. With early detection...

Click on the picture to read the article: When I moved to New Orleans seven years ago, I was the only Educational Therapist in private...

I woke up this morning trying to get in touch with Dr. Steve Dykstra with a technical question about a reading assessment. Instead, on...

I can't tell you how excited we were to try this reading accommodation! We have had PDF readers for quite a while, although Speechify is...

As you begin to make plans for your children and family, remember that while kids and adults alike need a break, it is also equally...