MACON, Ga. — Roberts Academy at Mercer University is almost three months into their first school year. It's a new private school for dyslexic students in second through fifth grade.
A day at Roberts Academy starts with a morning meeting followed by some laps around the playground. Then, students go inside to start reading and writing practice. Fifth grader Carson Mattox said she loves that everyone shares one thing.
"My favorite thing about Roberts is that everybody has dyslexia and you're not really alone," she said.
Second grade teacher Ashley Evans said the goal is to see students improve at their own pace, not following a curriculum. She said using multisensory tools like velcro dots and letters is especially effective for students with dyslexia.
"It's a multisensory approach which is proven effective for all students, especially students with dyslexia,” Evans said. “They definitely need for us to help them gain mastery of the content by going through different senses in their body. Making sure they're seeing it, hearing it, feeling it just becoming completely engaged in whatever the learning is that we're doing."
In her class, the sand is a favorite for students like Ruby Elsworth.
"I enjoy feeling the sand because it kind of feels like the beach sand, but also feels like pop rocks mixed with it," she said.
Some Roberts students came from schools where they struggled to keep up. Evans said acknowledging learning progress goes a long way.
"We just make sure to stop and celebrate those small moments so that students understand those small steps join together to make big progress in the end," Evans said.
A part of that celebrating is turning the challenge into a dynamic concept.
"I usually think that dyslexia is just my disability, but no, it's actually my superpower," Mattox said.
Currently, Roberts Academy has 33 students.
Mercer University Vice Provost Kelly Reffitt said they want the connection between Roberts Academy and the university to continue growing. She said starting next spring, Mercer students will begin student-teaching at Roberts Academy.
“The aim is to create this true partnership so that Mercer is part of this school's life here,” she said. “So, in every facet whether it's arts or whether it's reading, because we will have teachers who will come here for professional development and we're reaching the community too. There are big county teachers who will be coming here for professional development. It really is this robust partnership in every facet of the students’ lives here.”
Enrollment for this school year is still open until Thanksgiving for second, third and fifth graders. Fourth grade is at capacity for this year.