Different by Design

Angelina

HOMETOWN:
Swansea, MA

LANDMARK DORM:
Campus Cottage

FAVORITE CLASS:
Algebra—Loves exploring the puzzle-like side of mathematics.

PASSIONS:
Technical Theater, taking walks with her dog, rollerblading, going on spontaneous car rides to discover fun new places to explore

Jake

HOMETOWN:
Saugus, MA

FAVORITE CLASS:
Physical Education

PASSIONS:
Lacrosse, hockey, swimming, skiing, going to the beach, and building things

SKILLS BUILT:
Advocating for myself

Daniel

HOMETOWN:
South Hamilton, MA

FAVORITE CLASS:
Gym & Communications

PASSIONS:
Reading and playing with my dog, Rosie

SKILLS BUILT:
"Dot & Grab" for reading big words

Lillian

HOMETOWN:
Marshfield, MA

FAVORITE CLASS:
Math & Language Arts

PASSIONS:
Softball, Marine Biology, Writing

SKILLS BUILT:
Executive function skills that fit how my brain works.

Larry

HOMETOWN:
Springfield, VT

LANDMARK DORM:
Lopardo 1

FAVORITE CLASS:
Band & Film as Literature

PASSIONS:
Saxaphone, soccer, and hanging with friends

SKILLS BUILT:
Organization and proofreading skills

Owen

HOMETOWN:
Denver, CO

LANDMARK DORM:
Porter

FAVORITE CLASS:
Environmental Science—learning about the world, nature, and outdoor field trips  & Psychology—theories and real-world examples

PASSIONS:
Reading, video games, hiking, and spending time with friends

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Science

Swalm Science Center

Students apply literacy and study strategies throughout their science curriculum, such as pre-reading (SQ3R), note-taking, outlining, summarizing, paraphrasing, and vocabulary development. They read for cause and effect, analyze data, and write lab reports that build scientific reasoning and structured writing skills.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Math

Governor's Landing

In Geometry, new vocabulary doesn’t get thrown at students all at once. Words like “linear pair” are broken down so students can figure out what they actually mean. Teachers model examples step by step, and students take clear, organized notes to follow the thinking. As they work through problems together, the vocabulary starts to connect to what they’re doing—so angles aren’t just words on a page, but ideas they can understand and use.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Science

Swalm Science Center

In Biochemistry of Food class, big science words don’t stay intimidating for long. Students break them apart into prefixes, roots, and suffixes to build their decoding skills. On Tuesdays, they take that learning into the kitchen, following lab directions as they make things like bread and pasta. Along the way, they record observations and write lab reports—building reading, vocabulary, and writing skills through real, hands-on work.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Study Skills

Murphy Academic Center

In Leadership and Character class, students take part in a “Mock College Experience.” Each student gets a profile that simulates real college life, then writes a plan for how they’ll handle academics, social life, and responsibilities. They also build a weekly schedule to stay organized. It’s a chance to practice reading, writing, planning, and problem-solving—all in a setting that feels real and relevant.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Theater

Performing Arts Center

In Acting and Directing class, scripts become a way to practice reading and understanding language. Students break down tricky lines using syllabication and decoding strategies, talk through what they mean, and practice saying them out loud together. They read scripts more than once—first to figure out the words, then to understand the meaning, and finally to bring the character to life. By the time they are on stage, they’re not just reading—they’re performing.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Visual Arts

Visual Arts

In Digital Art & Design, students learn that visuals are a kind of language, too. As they design logos for their portfolios, they follow step-by-step directions, learn new tech vocabulary, and keep their digital files organized. During peer critiques, they practice giving and using feedback clearly. It’s all about communicating ideas—through images, words, and design choices.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Integrated Literacy

Lopardo Center

Ever wonder why you feel tired, stressed, or wide awake at the wrong time? In Health & Society, students explore topics like sleep and stress while building reading and vocabulary skills. They tackle interesting articles, learn words like circadian rhythm and eustress, and pull together key ideas to create projects that turn information into something useful and easy to share.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Dual Enrollment

Drake Welcome Center

College starts before graduation for Landmark students in Dual Enrollment. Endicott College professors come right to Landmark’s campus, teaching classes in the Drake Conference Room while students earn both high school and college credit. Along the way, students build the academic skills, confidence, and self-advocacy needed to succeed in college—and get a taste of what higher education is really like.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Horticulture

Greenhouse

The greenhouse is more than a place to grow plants—it's a place to grow knowledge. In Plant Science and Horticulture, students get their hands dirty planting vegetables, flowers, and native trees while exploring how plants work. Along the way, they learn the language of botany by decoding scientific plant names and root words, building vocabulary skills that help them make sense of the natural world.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Industrial Arts

Woodshop

In Woodworking, students turn raw lumber into projects they can actually use—and be proud of. As they build everything from benches to furniture, they learn the language of the workshop, mastering terms like mortise and tenon while reading plans, following detailed directions, and measuring with precision. With every project, students strengthen attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and confidence as they bring their ideas to life.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

History

Dudley Classroom Building

In Multi-Cultural World, students bring history to life by creating their own graphic novels based on real events. As they write and design their stories, they build vocabulary and strengthen their ability to explain ideas clearly through both words and images. With the freedom to choose their topics and shape their narratives, students take ownership of their learning. Along the way, they practice important executive function skills—like managing their time, organizing their ideas and materials, and seeing a project through from start to finish.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Athletics

Ansara Athletic Center

At practice, learning a new drill isn’t always simple—but coaches at Landmark know how to break it down. Because they’re also teachers, they take complex skills and turn them into small, manageable steps. Athletes practice one movement at a time, using visual cues like tape on the floor or cones on the field to guide them. Step by step, they build both athletic skills and executive function strategies like planning, sequencing, and staying focused.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Tutorial

Alexander Tutorial Center

In Tutorial, students become word detectives—breaking down words (decoding) and building them back up (encoding) to understand how language really works. They explore patterns, word parts, and meaning, then put those skills to use while reading novels they actually want to read. As they ask questions and dig deeper into their books, they build background knowledge and share their thinking through writing—growing as confident, curious readers.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

On the Road

Boston and Beyond

Being so close to Boston, we have history and culture at our fingertips. Students might visit places like the Boston Tea Party, connecting what they’re reading to real locations and history. Seeing the setting of a story firsthand helps bring it to life, making it easier to understand the language, themes, and ideas behind the text.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Dorm Life

Bain, Williston, Porter, Lopardo 1 & 2

In the dorms, students practice real-life skills every day. Planning something like a dorm activity night means breaking a big idea into steps—signing people up, shopping for supplies, and communicating with others. Along the way, students reflect on their growth and take more ownership of their time and responsibilities, building independence that carries into school and beyond.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Tutorial

In a literacy tutorial, students use hands-on tools to make sounds and words easier to understand. Felt squares and blocks help them map what they hear before they read or spell, improving phonemic awareness. When one sound changes, they adjust their setup to match. Then they practice reading and spelling related words, helping them become more flexible and accurate readers.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Literacy Events

Literacy isn’t just something that happens in class—it’s part of the whole community. Events like Literacy Day, Book Look, the House system, and the Vocabulary Parade give students fun, shared ways to celebrate words and reading. These moments help students see themselves as part of a community that values language and learning.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Movement

EMS Gym

At Landmark, movement is part of learning. Whether students are playing games, building new skills, or working as a team, they're also strengthening focus, attention, and memory—the brain's "ready to learn" muscles. It's one more way we create the conditions for stronger reading, writing, and learning every day.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Explorations

Whether they're creating art, solving design challenges, or learning a new game in Physical Education, students are building literacy skills along the way. Because Landmark's Exploration teachers are also literacy instructors, they don't assume students can simply read directions or decode unfamiliar words. Instead, they model new vocabulary, break directions into manageable steps, and make sure every student has the tools to understand before jumping in. That's how literacy becomes part of every learning experience.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Social Studies

Main Building, Elementary Wing

At the start of each unit, students get to know the key vocabulary first. They sort and break down words, look at syllables and parts of speech, and connect them to meaning. This gives them a strong foundation, so when they start reading, the content feels more familiar and easier to understand.

Literacy 
Ecosystem

Communications

Rutter Academic Center

In Communication class, students learn by teaching others. They create “How To” speeches on topics they enjoy, like cooking or rollerblading. Using organizers, they plan their ideas step by step, then build slides to support what they say. After presenting, they get feedback and try again—growing their confidence as speakers, writers, and communicators.