Striving to Succeed
Differentiation of instruction has been a goal among the staff for several years and our program has, of course, adopted this philosophy. Our expectations are not only for each child to work to his/her potential academically, but we also highly encourage the development of strengths within each child. The concept driving this emphasis is that students benefit maximally from being aware of and achieving in areas in which they do well whether that is sports, music, art, perhaps peer tutoring or other possibilities. We serve students K-5 with moderate academic needs, as well as students with mild needs. Our roster is often small, approximately 6 students, but may vary from year to year. Starting small gives us the opportunity to provide a smooth transition for our new students, and to set up a program suited for their individual needs. The children come to us for their core academics, and then join their classmates for content. With small group instruction we're able to teach students different strategies and approaches to learning that allow students to feel successful.
The Goals.... Our goal, as with any grade level or special program, is to keep our students striving to always do their best, provide them with a nurturing environment where learning is enjoyable, and to help them make measurable, significant gains with each year. Progress is measured using standardized tests along with curriculum assessments, which are documented in the students' Individualized Educational Plan, and reviewed annually. Also important, we want our students to feel confident and capable of achieving their own goals as they move up through the grades.