AUTISM STAFF

*Julie Mahoney

*Natalie Cossetta-Recker

*Amy Austin (Social Worker)

Courses Offered

ESSENTIAL ENGLISH

The purpose of this class is to improve each student'sreading and writing skills. Each student is given the Informal ReadingInventory in the fall. This instrument is used to guide reading instruction and to help focus on the area of greatest weakness which may be word identification, language comprehension, or print processing beyond word identification.  Students are given daily instruction on the Four Blocks Model, which are: Guided Reading, Self-Selected Reading, Writing, and Working with Words. The four blocks represent the different approaches to teaching students to read, and write, while also acknowledging that students differ in their literacy competence. 

ESSENTIAL MATH 1

This math course develops a solid foundation in the languageand basic concepts of mathematics.  Italso emphasizes manipulatives and mental math. Essential Math 1 focuses on improving mathematical skills in the areasof: basic operations and procedural skills, percents, time, fractions,decimals, patterns and functions, consumer math, measurement (capacity,perimeter, area, volume), statistics and probability, graphs (bar graph, linegraph), and geometry.  Problem solvingstrategies will also be emphasized throughout the course.

 STUDY SKILLS

 The purpose of this class is to improve achievement forstudents with disabilities. Students work on their individualized goals and objectives regarding their IEP.  This course also gives specializedinstruction towards IEP goals.  Students also work on self-advocacy skills, and functional skills needed to be successful in the future. Studentsreceive help, and any questions regarding homework assignments are clarified.

SOCIAL/LIFE SKILLS

The purpose of this clasS is to improve social interactions among students with disabilities.  Students work on the Zones of Regulation, emotions, social communication, and executive functioning skills. As well as life skills in the area of independent living, community participation and recreation and leisure.