K-8 Program

We use direct, multi-sensory and individualized teaching methods to meet each student’s unique profile of strengths and challenges.

• All classes use research based methods to promote behavior, social and academic growth.
• During Morning Meeting in homeroom, students gather, greet one another, share news, and get ready for the day ahead. Our teachers model proper social interactions.
• Teachers use positive words and tone to promote our students’ sense of belonging, active learning and self-discipline.
• Direct Instruction is used to teach to mastery.
• We introduce classroom materials using guided discovery, a format that encourages independence, creativity and responsibility.
• Using a theme-based curriculum, teachers link different disciplines so that students develop “big” and important ideas, which helps broaden their thinking.
• Our classrooms are designed to encourage students’ independence, cooperation and productivity.

Our program is designed to help your child:

• Learn how to control their emotions and impulses
• Understand and be more aware of their thought processes
• Learn how to speak for themselves and take control of their interests and life
• Excel quickly in critical academic areas

Our curriculum provides grade-appropriate content in each academic area.

To learn more about these individual programs, visit our Academics page.

• Social Thinking® by Michelle Garcia Winner
• Zones of Regulation®
• Wilson Reading System®
• Eureka Math®
• Visualizing and Verbalizing
• TouchMath®
• Edmark Reading®
• Step Up to Writing®
• The Orton-Gillingham Approach

Lower School is filled with fun, educational experiences.

• Our visiting artist series brings in practicing artists ranging from spoken word poets to samba dancers to teach music and dance. 
• Classes visit art and science museums, zoos, aquariums, and other historical and cultural institutions on frequent field trips. 
• Students learn empathy, executive functioning and social skills by visiting Special Equestrians for 6 weeks each year. 

Technology opens doors and breaks down barriers for students with complex challenges.

Technology  in the Lower School include:

• 1:1 Chromebooks including speech to text and text to speech on each device
• Basic keyboarding
• Reinforcing academic skills using developmentally appropriate software
• Writing and illustrating simple words and sentences in a multimedia format
• Use of interactive Promethean boards
• Numerous supplemental academic software programs that include graphic organizers, speech synthesizers, electronic dictionaries, and word prediction