student support

Supporting Every Student’s Growth & Success

At Hillel Torah, we’re committed to helping every student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our dedicated team provides personalized support through targeted interventions, small-group instruction, and social-emotional guidance tailored to each child’s unique needs. By partnering with parents, teachers, and specialists, we create individualized plans that build confidence and empower students to succeed in and out of the classroom.

learning specialists

הוראה מתקנת

Evidence-Based Strategies & Individualized Support

Our team of credentialed and licensed learning specialists is dedicated to providing targeted support in both General and Judaic Studies. With expertise in a range of research-based methodologies–including Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, PAF Reading Program, Shefa Multisensory Math, Kriah Master, Kiwak Kriya Method, Lifnai Vlifnim, Collaborative Problem Solving, and The Nurtured Heart Approach–they tailor their approach to meet each student’s individual needs.

Meet Our Support Staff

“The Student Services team is responsive, thorough, and go above and beyond to help support our children’s needs.”

HT Parent

Integrated Academic & Wellness Support

Academic Resource Support

We provide targeted academic support to help every student reach their full potential. Using a multi-tiered system, classroom teachers begin with differentiated instruction as the first level of intervention. For students needing additional support, our learning specialists implement engaging, research-based interventions and closely monitor progress toward educational goals.

Serving as case managers, our learning specialists collaborate with teachers, parents, and outside professionals to coordinate classroom accommodations and develop personalized support plans. When further assessment is needed, we guide families through the evaluation process and tailor resources to help each child succeed.

Eligible students receive targeted support in reading, writing, math, and Judaic studies, either in a resource setting or within the classroom. Accommodations and modifications ensure all students can access their grade-level curriculum with confidence, and small-group testing is available for standardized assessments.

Social & Emotional Support

We prioritize student well-being, fostering emotional growth alongside academic success. Our licensed school social worker provides individual and small-group support to help students build self-awareness, resilience, and positive decision-making skills. Additionally, our social worker partners with private therapists and leads Wellness Workshops, safety programs, and parent education programs to promote a supportive and healthy school environment.

Our social-emotional learning programs equip students with essential life skills to navigate challenges with confidence and empathy:

  • SMART Kids (Grades K, 2, and 4): Teaches the ABC’s of personal safety
  • Digital Citizenship: Internet and social media safety for middle school
  • Family Life: Age-appropriate discussions on physical and emotional development for middle school students, led by a medical professional 
  • Stress and Anxiety Management: Breathing exercises, mindfulness, and executive functioning strategies
  • Zones of Regulation: A cognitive-behavioral approach to help teach students to regulate emotions, energy, and sensory needs
  • Social Thinking: Strategies for self-regulation, social-emotional learning, executive functioning, perspective-taking, and social problem-solving
  • Positive School Environment Initiative: Teaches conflict resolution and recognizing and responding to bullying behaviors
  • RULER: Evidence-based approach to social-emotional intelligence and self-regulation

By integrating these programs into daily school life, we empower students with the tools to build healthy relationships, manage emotions, and thrive in every aspect of development.

Outside Therapies & Evaluations

We coordinate with outside agencies and professionals to ensure students receive the specialized support they need, conveniently within the school day.

In-School Services from Outside Consultants

From speech and occupational therapy to academic coaching and counseling, we coordinate with trusted providers to offer therapies on-site:

  • REACH Occupational and Speech Therapy: A licensed occupational therapist and speech therapist visits weekly to consult with teachers, screen students, and provide direct support with fine motor skills, writing, classroom functioning, and language development.
  • Northwestern Speech Screening: Graduate students from Northwestern University conduct annual speech screenings for nursery, kindergarten, and first grade, with additional screening available by referral for pre-nursery, second, and third grades.
  • NTDSE Speech Therapy: The Niles Township District for Special Education provides speech therapy evaluations and therapy sessions. We assist eligible families in accessing these services.
Title I Services for Eligible Chicago Residents

Students who qualify for Title I services can receive additional academic and social-emotional support:

  • Title I Instruction: Weekly after-school math or reading support through Catapult Learning
  • Title I Academic Coaching: Weekly one-on-one executive functioning and study skills sessions during school hours by a licensed special education teacher through REACH
  • Title I Counseling: Weekly one-on-one counseling with a licensed clinical social worker through REACH
Referrals for Evaluations

When a comprehensive neuropsychological or educational evaluation is recommended, our Student Services team guides families to the appropriate outside resources. Qualifying families may apply for a REACH grant through the Jewish Federation to receive a subsidized neuropsych evaluation.

By partnering with families and outside professionals, we ensure that every child has access to the support they need to reach their full potential.