In this inspiring episode of The Writing Glitch, Cheri Dotterer sits down with John Munro, Head of School at the GOW School—an internationally recognized boarding and day school transforming the lives of students with language-based learning disabilities. John shares the school's rich history, rooted in the work of Dr. Samuel Orton, and details the school’s signature Reconstructive Language (RL) curriculum that empowers students to master reading and writing through neuroscience-backed methods. Discover how small classes, structured literacy, a robotics program inspired by BattleBots, and deep staff-student relationships make GOW a hidden gem for students from around the world.

https://www.gow.org/

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TIME STAMPS

01:00 GOW’s mission to transform life trajectories for students
02:00 The meaning behind “ignite learning” at GOW
03:00 John’s background and motivation for joining GOW
04:00 The school’s 99-year history and founding story
06:00 From boys-only to co-ed and its current demographics
07:00 International student body and cultural representation
08:00 Supporting English language learners with dyslexia
09:00 Overview of GOW’s academic structure (6-day school week)
10:00 Athletics and extracurriculars at GOW
11:00 Outdoor education and unique enrichment offerings
12:00 Day student experience mirrors that of boarders
13:00 Faculty’s intensive involvement in student life
14:00 Teacher commitment and long-term retention
15:00 Academic calendar with built-in recharge breaks
17:00 Handling breaks and student housing during holidays
18:00 Personal boarding school connection and perspectives
19:00 Transition to discussion about Reconstructive Language
20:00 What is RL and how it originated at GOW
21:00 Structure of the RL deck and how it builds reading skills
23:00 Integration of RL with writing instruction
24:00 Enrollment capacity and class sizes
25:00 Robotics program and BattleBots championship success
27:00 Admitting students who are a mission fit
28:00 GOW as a college-prep school, not a therapeutic school
29:00 Summer program overview: academics + camp fun
30:00 How summer school feeds full-year enrollment
31:00 Structured literacy benefits all learners
32:00 Website and open house details
33:00 The school’s four pillars: Honesty, Hard Work, Respect, Kindness

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