“I like Elementary School because the teachers are NICE, and we have fun learning!”
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The Elementary school provides experiential and hands-on learning experiences for its students both inside and outside of the classroom.
High expectations for achievement and intellectual challenge are promoted within a child-centered environment. Students learn to see themselves as writers, historians, problem-solvers, scientists. |
Students with hearing aids and cochlear implants who have developed listening and speaking skills and comprehend the language of academic content are instructed using auditory access and spoken language. Students who learn primarily through visual language are instructed in American Sign Language.
This vibrant bilingual community gives children the wonderful opportunity to learn from professionals who are hearing and Deaf professionals with competency in both English and ASL. Some students learn and communicate primarily through spoken English. Other children learn and communicate primarily through ASL. Through our bilingual community, children have the wonderful opportunity to benefit from dual cultures and languages!
The Elementary School teachers are experts in visual learning. They use visual tools to increase language development and to improve comprehension of academic content. They use Smart™ Interactive White Boards, in classrooms to enhance the connection between written English, spoken English and American Sign Language.
Children can also benefit from individual and group speech anguage sessions with a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).
Elementary students attend American Sign Language classes. American Sign Language is used in social and academic settings to meet the communication needs of all members of the school.
In Elementary School, Fanwood designs an education plan that maps the unique learning strengths and needs of each student. Achievement goals are developed in language, reading and math skills at the pace and ability that best suits the student’s learning aptitude.
CURRICULUM:
The Elementary School’s curriculum materials provide content rich in English and visual pictures, illustrations and models. The curriculum is aligned with New York State standards, comparable to grade level expectations for hearing children and prepares Fanwood students for standardized tests, including state tests in reading, writing, math and science that begin in 3rd grade.
The Elementary School curriculum is rich in language arts – speaking, listening, seeing, signing and reading and writing. The reading series, Treasures, is used preschool through middle school. Students begin Accelerated Reading (AR) in elementary school when they have a mid-first grade reading level and AR continues into high school.
First Steps: Map of Development in Writing Skills begins in preschool and is used through high school.
The Envisions math series is used Kindergarten through 5th grade and is aligned with middle school math texts.
The preschool – middle school science curriculum is supported with hands-on Foss Science kits in a well-equipped, state-of-art science lab.
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