Special Ed Curriculum Leader:
Melissa McDonald - Special Education Liaison
In order to enroll in small-group skills classes offered through the Resource Room, students need to be on an Individual Education Plan (IEP), as decided through the formal special education evaluation process of Massachusetts state law, Chapter 766.
Courses included here are:
- Reading Skills
- Writing Skills
- Wilson Language Training
- Lexia Reading Program
- Math
- Organization Skills
READING SKILLS
All of the students in this course are two or more years below grade level in skills development. Classes are conducted in small groups and are individualized (when possible) to meet the requirements of each student's educational plan. A variety of strategies are provided to assist students to become successful readers.
WRITING SKILLS
This course is designed for students needing further development of their written language skills. The five-step writing process is utilized with greater emphasis on
prewriting strategies before writing as well as specific instruction in skills needed for the final editing stage: spelling, punctuation, and proofreading skills. Whenever possible, classroom writing assignments in English, social studies, and science will be utilized to teach writing skills within the context of the curriculum.
WILSON LANGUAGE TRAINING
A small number of students with significant word attack and spelling difficulties continue from seventh grade with intensive teaching
of using this sequential, multi-sensory reading system. Students meet in groups of 2 to 4 students to receive intensive, small group instruction in decoding, word analysis, syllabication and spelling skills. Students are recommended for this course who are two or more years below grade level in reading skills and who need a specialized, multi-sensory approach to reading.
LEXIA READING PROGRAM
The Lexia Reading Program is a self-paced
computer program that promotes mastery in word attack, comprehension and
vocabulary development. The program offers detailed progress reports
that are evaluated by the resource room teacher. There are five steps to
the program in which students need to show mastery to proceed to the
next step.
MATH
Students with learning disabilities in areas affecting math work
on individualized plans in the Resource Room. Areas may include basic
drills, basic skills, computation and word problems (simple and multi-
step). We also spend time reviewing concepts learned in the regular
education curriculum.
ORGANIZATION SKILLS
Within the Resource Center we also teach important organizational skills to students who are having difficulty with school, as described in their individualized educational plan. This assistance can range from individual
skills work, to support work with regular classroom assignments.
Additionally we provide emotional support as delineated by a child‟s I.E.P.
Students come to the Resource Center between one and four periods per week to work in small groups with a Resource Center teacher. Resource Room teachers work with other teachers to clarify classroom expectations and to help modify work for individual pupils if modification is necessary.