What types of materials and/or instructional programs do you use?

• The materials and instructional programs that are used to reinforce individualized skill instruction are scientifically research based materials that have been proven to be highly effective and efficient for skill development.
• Multisensory methodologies are used as well as hands-on experiential learning to instruct students.

• Students that find it difficult to analyze the unknown word may often be presented with a multisensory, step-by-step structured phonetic approach. Programs such as those presented via an Orton-Gillingham methodology are utilized. These programs may include but certainly are not limited to The Wilson Reading Program, The Slant Reading Program, and/or Project Read.
• Lindamood-Bell educational programs are also used to further develop word recognition, word attack, decoding/phonetic analysis, phonological processing. These programs also improve auditory memory, auditory analysis, synthesis and discrimination.

• In addition to the study of word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, word analogies, context clues, and etymology, students learn to visualize the term and discuss the meaning.
• Lindamood-Bell materials and computer programs such as Visualizing/Verbalizing are used to further vocabulary development and concept imagery.

• Reading comprehension is taught using a variety of materials that help the student not only understand what s/he is learning but also remember what is read. To improve reading comprehension, students may be taught:
  • Metacognition or metacomprehension skills to develop the ability to concentrate on what is read. The student should be taught to:
    • Read the title, boldface headings, and hypothesize what might happen.
    • Read the first page or paragraph and hypothesize what might happen next.
    • Continually question what will happen. Learn to generate questions as the material is read and guess what might happen.
    • Summarize context as it is read.
    • Reevaluate personal predictions at the end of each section or chapter.
  • Obtaining literal meanings: Understand details, ways to secure main ideas, recall sequence, and follow written directions.
  • Understand implied meanings: Understand characterization and setting, sense relationships, predict outcomes, draw conclusions, and make generalizations.
  • Creative reading (Going beyond author’s message) such as the ability to use the author’s and reader’s ideas to solve a problem and the ability to use author’s ideas as a springboard to new ideas.
• Organization and study skills. Instruction in the area of organization and study skills may include:
  • Use of an assignment notebook
    • Dating each page
    • Writing down the daily assignments
    • Use of a teacher to check the completeness and accuracy of the data.
  • Time scheduling for the daily routines and written assignments.
  • How to approach materials according to the purpose of the assignment.
  • The use of visuals such as Think-Charts, Mind Mapping, Visual Mapping, and Story Mapping to organize thoughts for recall and comprehension.
  • The practice of fixing a piece of information in mind by visualizing pictures.
  • Facts should be organized into categories.
  • Note-taking techniques
  • How to study
• Written expression instruction includes:
  • The mechanics of English as well as sentence, paragraph, composition, and essay writing
  • How to write a research paper
  • Written vocabulary
  • Written responses needed for the ISAT tests
  • Writing section of the ACT
  • Use of graphic organizers to develop a written response
  • Use of computer programs to further develop writing
• Mathematics:
  • Instruction in mathematics includes calculations as well as math problem solving.
  • Students learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as well as fractions, decimals, percent, time, and measurement.
  • Advanced mathematics is also taught such as Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Chemistry, Statistics, and Business Math
  • Students learn to apply mathematic knowledge to more complex concepts and problems.