Learning Center

Seattle-area teachers, please join the HRS Learning Center for some upcoming workshops!

Championing Dyslexia: Tools for Specialist Teachers

Saturday, March 8
9:00am - 12:30pm
Hamlin Robinson Middle School
1730 20th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144

Learn More & Register

When Students Struggle With Reading: How To Understand, Assess, and Support Struggling Readers

Saturday, March 15
9:00am - 1:00pm
Hamlin Robinson Middle School
1730 20th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144

Learn More & Register

Registration for HRS Summer Academy is now open!

Summer Academy is open to any student entering grades 1-8. Students do not have to attend Hamlin Robinson School to attend Summer Academy.

Summer Academy offers:

• Morning Slingerland® class (July 7 - 30): a multi-week Slingerland® class focused on reading, writing, and language skills
• Afternoon activity camps (June 23 - August 8): Weeklong camps catering to all kinds of interests and talents!

Slingerland® class and activity camps can be combined to create a full-day experience.

Register here for a super summer!

The Learning Center is proud to partner once again with Rainier Valley Food Bank and Seattle Public Library to bring books, food, and fun to South Seattle families at the 3rd Annual RVFB Book Fair!

The event will offer free books, activities like bookmark-making and sight word bingo, shelf-stable groceries, and information from community resources, including the Learning Center.

Rainier Valley Food Bank Book Fair
Saturday, March 22
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98118

Hamlin Robinson School is proud to be a POCIS Northwest member school. Their DEI keynotes throughout the academic year always leave us with something new to think about - we're looking forward to the upcoming speaker series featuring Elena Aguilar!

The virtual keynote is free and open to the public.

How To Build Equitable Schools with Elena Aguilar
Wednesday, April 23
5:00 - 6:15pm (PST)
Register for the free webinar

Participants will learn strategies to cultivate the kind of emotional resilience needed to build equitable schools. Participants will anchor in their values and purpose, explore how to navigate uncomfortable emotions, and learn why emotional resilience is the missing element in most equity endeavors.

Learn more on the POCIS website!

Are you a parent of a 10 - 18 year old? Join the spring cohort of the PAT (Parents of Adolescents & Teens) program!

PAT brings together parents of adolescents and teens to connect with one another, learn from experts, and gain tools to navigate the challenges of adolescence.

• Spring cohort will run Thursday evenings (5:30 - 7:30pm) from April 17 to May 8
• Attendees can participate either in-person or virtually

Learn more and register today!

Big thank you to the Hamlin Robinson School Student Council for partnering with the Learning Center on service projects! Last month, they led a book drive that collected over 1,000 books for the HRS Community Library. We appreciate their energy and leadership!

The next virtual course in the Next Steps College Readiness Program is coming up next month.

Mental Health and Social Integration: Navigating New Spaces with Confidence
Wednesday, April 16
5:30 – 7:00pm
Virtual Course

Next Steps is open to current 9th and 10th graders (and their families) with learning differences, covering topics relating to college support and resources for students with learning differences. 

Learn more and register!

The Learning Center's Tutoring Program offers personalized, high-quality support for students of all ages in reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills.

Available both in-person and virtually, our sessions are designed to meet the unique needs of each learner.

Learn more and register here!

At the HRS Learning Center, we're on a mission to change the game in education for students and families. But we can't do it alone - we need your help!

By partnering with us, you can play a role in creating valuable learning opportunities for the people we serve. Together, we can offer diverse programs and resources that cater to all types of learners and help students, parents, and teachers thrive.

Want to know what's coming up? Check out the Learning Center website for our latest programs, new initiatives, and upcoming events.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Partner with us on a project
• Donate to support our programs
• Spread the word in your network

Let's work together and make a difference for students, parents, and teachers in our community.

Visit our Partnerships Page to learn more!

The Learning Center was honored to showcase at King Day 2025 at the Northwest African American Museum.

This event brought together over 2,000 people for a day of reflection, including a freedom march, inspiring exhibits, and community conversations.

Rod Walton, Director of Outreach & Learning Center, was a featured speaker, sharing the work we are doing to expand access to literacy programs.

We look forward to future collaborations with NAAM!

We wrapped up the 2024-2025 HRS Speaker Series in January with a session from Dr. Emily Starrett.

She spoke about strengthening students' math identity, providing strategies to support students in building their confidence and success in math.

The HRS Speaker Series brings in experts to engage our community in discussions on learning differences, literacy, executive functioning, student wellbeing, and much more.

Previous Speaker Series events are available to watch here. 

Seattle-area teachers, please join the HRS Learning Center for some upcoming workshops!

Championing Dyslexia: Tools for Specialist Teachers

Saturday, March 8
9:00am - 12:30pm
Hamlin Robinson Middle School
1730 20th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144

Learn More & Register

When Students Struggle With Reading: How To Understand, Assess, and Support Struggling Readers

Saturday, March 15
9:00am - 1:00pm
Hamlin Robinson Middle School
1730 20th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144

Learn More & Register

Registration for HRS Summer Academy is now open!

Summer Academy is open to any student entering grades 1-8. Students do not have to attend Hamlin Robinson School to attend Summer Academy.

Summer Academy offers:

• Morning Slingerland® class (July 7 - 30): a multi-week Slingerland® class focused on reading, writing, and language skills
• Afternoon activity camps (June 23 - August 8): Weeklong camps catering to all kinds of interests and talents!

Slingerland® class and activity camps can be combined to create a full-day experience.

Register here for a super summer!

Are you a parent of a 10 - 18 year old? Join the spring cohort of the PAT (Parents of Adolescents & Teens) program!

PAT brings together parents of adolescents and teens to connect with one another, learn from experts, and gain tools to navigate the challenges of adolescence.

We are excited to now offer PAT in a hybrid format, allowing parents to participate in-person or virtually.

The Learning Center's Tutoring Program offers personalized, high-quality support for students of all ages in reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills.

Available both in-person and virtually, our sessions are designed to meet the unique needs of each learner.

Learn more and register here!

At the HRS Learning Center, we're on a mission to change the game in education for students and families. But we can't do it alone - we need your help!

By partnering with us, you can play a role in creating valuable learning opportunities for the people we serve. Together, we can offer diverse programs and resources that cater to all types of learners and help students, parents, and teachers thrive.

Want to know what's coming up? Check out the Learning Center website for our latest programs, new initiatives, and upcoming events.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Partner with us on a project
• Donate to support our programs
• Spread the word in your network

Let's work together and make a difference for students, parents, and teachers in our community.

Visit our Partnerships Page to learn more!

Seattle-area teachers, please join the HRS Learning Center for some upcoming workshops! Clock hours are available for both workshops.

Championing Dyslexia: Tools for Specialist Teachers
Saturday, February 8
9:00am - 12:30pm
Learn More & Register

When Students Struggle With Reading: How To Understand, Assess, and Support Struggling and Dyslexic Readers
Saturday, March 15
9:00am - 1:00pm
Learn More & Register

Spread the word to your colleagues! We hope to see you there.

Please join us for Thursday's Speaker Series event with Dr. Emily Starrett, Strengthening Math Identity: Resources and Strategies to Support All Learners. 

The events are virtual, free, and open to the community. Dr. Starrett will explore the roles adults can play in impacting students' math identity (students' belief in their ability to learn and do math). We will cover topics like productive struggle, collaborative discourse, and creative problem-solving.

Thursday, January 16
6:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
Register Here

Watch previous Speaker Series events here. 

We're pleased to announce a new partnership with YMCA of Greater Seattle! This collaboration has been a year in the making, culminating in a meeting with President and CEO Loria Yeadon. As the first woman and first person of color to lead the organization in its 143-year history, Loria deeply understands the importance of equity and access.

Last month, we joined YMCA of Greater Seattle at Cinematique 2024 in Bellevue, an event hosted by the Essex Community Outreach Corporation.

Through this partnership, we'll be able to offer our services and resources to foster families throughout the Puget Sound region. 

Registration is just around the corner for HRS Summer Academy 2025! Summer Academy will run from July 7 – 30, 2025. 

• Summer Academy is for students entering grades 1-8, offering a three-and-a-half week Slingerland® morning class and a full slate of afternoon enrichment camps. 
• The Summer Academy class and Summer Academy camps can be combined to create a full-day experience. 
• Open to all students entering grades 1-8 in the greater Seattle area – you don’t need to attend HRS to join! 

To be notified when registration opens, please submit this form. 

Dr. King's work toward equality and justice continues to guide us today. We recognize his message of dignity and respect for all people in our daily work at the Learning Center. Here are two ways we’re honoring Dr. King’s legacy this year: 

• King Day 2025: Forward Together - An event with our partner, the Northwest African American Museum
• In collaboration with the HRS DEIB Department, our community participated in a video project to reflect on Dr. King's I Have A Dream speech.

Dr. King's legacy reminds us that his dream demands action - we must work daily to create equity and access for all. 

This week, our Literacy Link program began offering free literacy screenings to King County students! These screenings will support struggling readers by providing early identification and actionable reports that will help families advocate for next steps.

Along with free literacy screenings in English and Spanish, Literacy Link also offers free educator workshops that will give teachers strategies to support struggling readers. Registration is now open for our next workshop, When Students Struggle With Reading, in March 2025.

For more information, visit the Literacy Link website.

It's not too late to register for tonight's Speaker Series event with Heather Street from NAMI Seattle!

The events are virtual, free, and open to the community. Street will lead a presentation that will help parents and educators support and understand the mental health of their students, both at home and in the classroom.

Thursday, December 5
6:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)
Register Here

Parents of tweens and teens: navigate the adolescent years with confidence!

Join the Learning Center for the next session of the Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) program, beginning in January 2025.

The January series will focus on communication, walking parents/guardians through common communication barriers and giving them a toolbox of skills to communicate more effectively with their adolescent. The series will cover a range of topics, including how the pandemic has impacted communication skills and talking to adolescents about stress.

On December 11, the Learning Center will host the next workshop in our College & Career Readiness series: Disability Services – What to Expect from College Support Programs. This workshop will cover college accommodations for students with learning differences, along with strategies to advocate for the support students need to succeed. The College & Career Readiness Program is open to current 9th and 10th graders and their parents.

Registration is open for the December, February, April, and May workshops.

The Learning Center is thrilled to welcome our newest cohort of interns! This group of passionate individuals will be making an impact across our programs, supporting new initiatives, outreach, and local events. Our internship program provides hands-on learning opportunities in a dynamic educational environment, allowing interns to grow as leaders and contribute to a meaningful mission. We look forward to the fresh perspectives they’ll bring and the great work ahead!

To learn more about the HRS Internship Program and volunteering opportunities, click here. 

The Learning Center recently hosted two valuable professional development sessions for teachers.

As part of the Next Steps Initiative, the Learning Center hosted The State of Secondary and Higher Education for Students with Learning Differences. This session focused on the unique challenges faced by students with learning differences in high school and college. Teachers walked away with strategies to help students advocate for themselves and develop transitional skills.

The Learning Center also partnered with NAMI Seattle for a De-Escalation and Communication workshop. Teachers learned how to better understand student behavior and create a more supportive classroom environment where students feel emotionally safe.

The Learning Center's Tutoring Program offers personalized, high-quality support for students of all ages in reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills.

Available both in-person and virtually, our sessions are designed to meet the unique needs of each learner. This fall, we expanded our tutor team to provide even more opportunities for growth - learn more and register here!

At the HRS Learning Center, we're on a mission to change the game in education for students and families. But we can't do it alone - we need your help!

By partnering with us, you can play a role in creating valuable learning opportunities for the people we serve. Together, we can offer diverse programs and resources that cater to all types of learners and help students, parents, and teachers thrive.

Want to know what's coming up? Check out the Learning Center website for our latest programs, new initiatives, and upcoming events.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Partner with us on a project
• Donate to support our programs
• Spread the word in your network

Let's work together and make a difference for students, parents, and teachers in our community.

Visit our Partnerships Page to learn more!

The next HRS Speaker Series event is on Thursday, November 14, featuring childhood specialist and award-winning author Amanda Morin.

Amanda will present Beyond Behavior Charts: Reframing and Rethinking Behavior Through a Neurodiversity-Affirming Lens, where she will explore the EATS (Escape, Attention, Tangible Gains, Sensory Needs) acronym to better understand student behavior through context rather than compliance, while examining the impact of traditional behavior management systems on neurodivergent students. Participants will learn strategies to become proactive, compassionate allies, and discuss the role of co-regulation in creating neurodiversity-affirming environments that prioritize emotional regulation and communication.

Click here to learn more and click here to register for the free webinar.  

We are excited to announce that the Literacy Link program has launched from the Learning Center!

Literacy Link offers free literacy screenings for King County families, as well as educator workshops that will give teachers strategies to support struggling readers.

Free Literacy Screenings

• Free literacy screenings for up to 300 King County students in grades 2-5
• State-approved STAR Early Literacy Screenings, available in both English and Spanish
• Along with results, families will receive actionable reports to help them advocate for their student's educational needs 

Free Educator Workshops

• Designed to equip teachers with the skills to identify and support struggling readers
• Registration is now open for our first workshop, When Students Struggle With Reading, in March 2025.

For more information, visit the Literacy Link website.

The Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) program has been a resounding success this fall!

The October cohort, centered around the theme of effective communication, is currently wrapping up, offering families insights into fostering open and supportive dialogues with their teens. Through expert-led workshops and group discussions, parents explored practical strategies to enhance family communication and navigate challenges like peer pressure and academic stress.

Learn more and register for the January cohort here.

Our October College Readiness Workshop was a powerful session where families explored ways to advocate and empower their students through the high school transition. Topics included strengthening communication, navigating IEPs, and fostering essential life skills that build student independence. 

Join us for the December workshop, Disability Services – What to Expect from College Support Programs, to learn about college accommodations and advocacy strategies. Registration is open for current 9th and 10th graders and their parents—don’t miss this opportunity to set up a successful college transition!

The Learning Center's Tutoring Program offers personalized support for students of all ages in reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills. Available both in-person and virtually, our sessions meet the unique needs of each learner, from K-12 to adult students. This fall, we’ve expanded our tutor team to provide even more opportunities for growth.

It's not too late to join the 2024-2025 tutoring program—learn more and inquire here!

At the HRS Learning Center, we're on a mission to change the game in education for students and families. But we can't do it alone - we need your help!

By partnering with us, you can play a role in creating valuable learning opportunities for the people we serve. Together, we can offer diverse programs and resources that cater to all types of learners and help students, parents, and teachers thrive.

Want to know what's coming up? Check out the Learning Center website for our latest programs, new initiatives, and upcoming events.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Partner with us on a project
• Donate to support our programs
• Spread the word in your network

Visit our Partnerships Page to learn more!

The Learning Center continues to expand, offering both in-person and virtual tutoring to meet the growing needs of our community. This summer, we welcomed a new cohort of families, and the number of continuing families has continued to rise as we enter the fall season. To support this growth, we are excited to welcome our new September cohort of tutors to the Learning Center.

Fall registration is now open for the HRS Tutoring Program. We look forward to an exciting and productive season ahead! 

The HRS Speaker Series will kick off this month and run through January.

The events are virtual, free, and open to the community. We’re excited to begin with neurodivergent family coach and consultant Christian Vinceneux, who will explore the powerful connection between emotional safety, regulation, and student engagement.

From Dysregulation to Engagement: Building Emotionally Safe Learning Environments
Thursday, October 24
6:00 - 7:00 PM (PST)

Click here to register for all of the Speaker Series events for the 2024-2025 school year. 

The first cohort of the Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) group began meeting this month. 

The program offers parents resources such as expert-led workshops, webinars, and discussion groups on adolescent development, communication, and issues like peer pressure and academic stress.

If you are interested in joining the next cohort, starting in January 2025, click here.

This spring, the Learning Center launched the Internship Program, giving young adults the opportunity to gain experience in the inner workings of our school while contributing to our mission of igniting the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

In July, we partnered with Teens in Public Service (TIPS) and the Washington Neurodiversity Project to host neurodivergent interns at the Learning Center.

Learn more about the HRS Internship Program and volunteer opportunities. 

At the HRS Learning Center, we're on a mission to change the game in education for students and families. But we can't do it alone - we need your help!

By partnering with us, you can play a role in creating valuable learning opportunities for the people we serve. Together, we can offer diverse programs and resources that cater to all types of learners and help students, parents, and teachers thrive.

Want to know what's coming up? Check out the Learning Center website for our latest programs, new initiatives, and upcoming events.

There are lots of ways to get involved:

• Partner with us on a project
• Donate to support our programs
• Spread the word in your network

Visit our Partnerships Page to learn more!

The HRS Learning Center is proud of the strides we've made over the past year in growing our programs and strategic partnerships. This work has allowed us to dive into new educational circles and serve new communities, fueling our unwavering commitment to equity and access for all students. We are continuously working to create a premier learning resource hub for students with language-based learning differences and their families.

We're excited to introduce the College & Career Readiness Program, the first offering from the Learning Center's Next Steps Initiative. This program is designed to prepare students with learning differences for success in college and the workplace. Through tailored workshops, one-on-one coaching, and practical experiences, students will develop essential skills in areas such as college applications, study strategies, time management, career exploration, and workplace readiness. Our mission is to empower students to confidently transition from high school to higher education and beyond, ensuring they have the tools and support to thrive in any environment.

During its first year, the program is open to 9th and 10th grade students. 

Learn more and register here.

The Learning Center is excited to announce the rollout of the Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT) program, a new initiative designed to support families navigating the unique challenges of raising older children. This program will provide parents with valuable resources, including expert-led workshops, webinars, and discussion groups focused on understanding adolescent development, fostering effective communication, and addressing common issues such as peer pressure, academic stress, and social media influence. By participating in the PAT program, parents will gain practical strategies and insights to help them better support their teens during this critical stage of development, strengthening family relationships and enhancing their child’s overall well-being.

Learn more and register here. 

Hamlin Robinson School is committed to fostering equity in education through the power of literacy. In our pursuit of equity and access, the HRS Community Library opened in 2024 to be an inclusive space where diversity is celebrated and every student feels valued and empowered. The library offers books, digital tools, and technologies, specifically curated to support literacy needs for students in the Rainier Valley, especially students with language-based learning differences. Learn more here.

This past year, HRS received a community grant from Pitch Your Peers (Seattle) to support our new Early Screening Program (ESP), launching in September 2024. Through the HRS Learning Center, we will offer FREE literacy screening services to King County students in grades 2-5. ESP, the flagship initiative of our Literacy Link program, addresses the urgent need for early identification of language-based learning differences beyond the state-required K-2 screenings in Washington public schools. By providing these screenings and actionable reports for parents, students are more likely to receive timely intervention, learning support, and accommodations.

Literacy Link is a comprehensive community education program designed to support students, parents, and educators. For parents, Literacy Link will offer resources such as webinars on topics like building advocacy skills and supporting students’ at-home learning, as well as additional educational content. Literacy Link will also provide teacher workshops, training sessions, and consulting services to local and regional school districts, focusing on improving infrastructure and instructional support for literacy programs.

The grant also includes funding for educator workshops, where HRS faculty will share their expertise on language-based learning differences and literacy screenings. Educators will be able to attend these workshops at no charge during the first year, ensuring widespread access to these valuable resources.

To learn more about the Literacy Link Program, click here.