Language Lifter

The Joy School Language-Mini

This course was designed to fit the needs of the upcoming 4^th-6^th grade student struggling with receptive and expressive language.  The course will be two hours in length.  The first hour focusing on social skills/pragmatics and the second hour working on visualizing and verbalizing skills that are linked to reading comprehension and mathematics.

Summer Language Hour 1

The purpose for this summer program is to boost students’ social knowledge and social skills, by discussing and analyzing abstract social concepts.  For example, an effective conversation involves using skills such as eye-contact, turn-taking, asking questions of others, monitoring and accurately reading facial expressions and body language.  In this group we will spend time discussing topics such as talking on the phone, being part of a group, perspective taking, self- monitoring, and problem solving.  We will break down these concepts into small, concrete steps that will help students to understand what skills to use and when to use them.  Students will spend time observing and discussing examples of positive and negative social concepts, as seen in the community or from movie and television clips.  Then students will then spend time practicing and role-playing effective and positive conversations, impressions, and problem-solving skills with each other while playing games and having conversations in the classroom. 

Summer Language Hour 2 

This summer school program focuses on vocabulary building and memory strategies to assist with writing and reading comprehension.  Students will focus on building and strengthening their ability to visualize, or make mental pictures, while listening to and reading a variety of short stories.  Mental imagery increases our ability to be descriptive in our written and verbal language.  It also helps us to see the whole picture when reading, which enables us to then identify the main idea, make accurate predictions, and summarize information.

This class will use Lindamood Bell’s Visualizing and Verbalizing strategies and materials to build and enhance students’ ability to create and use mental imagery to assist with their reading comprehension as well as their writing.  Students’ will also spend time learning and applying new vocabulary.  Most of the vocabulary will come from reading passages that students will see or hear while in this class.  Time will also be spent discussing abstract language (i.e. idioms, similes, and metaphors).  Students will learn the meanings behind a variety of figurative expressions and then they will practice applying these expressions in their writing. 

Program Specifics

Director

Ms. Laura (Connor) Rodriguez, M.Ed., Lower School Principal/ Educational Diagnostician, will serve as Director of this program.  Meredith Hibbetts, M.A., CCC-SLP, our Speech Language Pathologist, will be the lead teacher.  Mrs. Rodriguez will be your main contact for questions regarding admissions, class placement, etc.  Throughout the summer, Miss Hibbetts will also work with students and parents to ensure that time spent in the preschool program can be optimized.  To reach Miss Hibbetts, please dial ext. 279 or email her at:  mhibbetts@thejoyschool.org

You may also contact Laura Rodriguez, Lower School Principal and Summer School Coordinator, with any questions.  Ext 222.

lrodriguez@thejoyschool.org

Admissions

Students will be accepted based on our belief that our program can provide meaningful benefits to address the child’s particular needs.  This decision will be based on testing reports and parent descriptions submitted during the application process. Some students may be asked to participate in a brief interview session to ensure that we fully understand the child’s needs.

Placement

In general, students will be grouped based on a combination of chronological age, current developmental level, and current preschool placement. Class sizes will average 6 students per teacher, depending on the needs of the students.  All curriculum-planning decisions will be based on the needs of the students within each group. 

School Day

The school day will run 1:00-3:00, Monday through Thursday. Language Camp will be a 15-day program, running June 2-June 26th 2008.

Teachers

All Language Summer Camp teachers are current teachers and a certified Speech Language Pathologist with The Joy School. Their school year experience and intensive training provide them with the tools required to teach a range of student needs in the summer school classroom.  Classes will be supported with one or more University of Houston students currently studying in the Communication Disorders department.

Policies and Procedures

 1.           All payments must be received by the first day of the session. Students may not attend classes until paid in full.

 2.           Payment of tuition is for the entire five-week session, regardless of whether a student attends all five weeks available.  No tuition refunds will be made.

 3.           Students should arrive no later than 1:10 p.m. in order to get the most out of the program, as make up time cannot be granted. 

 4.           Students must be picked up no later than 3:15 p.m.  There will be a $15 late charge for every fifteen-minute increment beyond 3:15 p.m. that a student is left at school.  For example, if a child is not picked up until 3:30, the family will be charged $30, as there are two fifteen minutes increments—3:15-3:30 and 3:30-3:45. 

 5.           Students are expected to comply with all classroom and school rules. Any child deemed to be disruptive to the learning environment, or dangerous to others, will be dismissed immediately without refund.

 6.           Students are allowed to bring a snack to school everyday.  Carbonated soft drinks are not allowed.

 7.           Students should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for a school setting. Open toe, backless shoes are not allowed   

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Joy School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs and other school-administered programs

The Joy School

Summer School 2008

Application Fee is nonrefundable and must be received with the completed application.  This covers the time involved in reviewing applications, interviewing parents and students if necessary and contacting outside professionals as needed.

Enrollment Deposit is nonrefundable and ensures your child’s spot in the program.  The $100 may be deducted from tuition.

Tuition is due May 30th, 2008 for all students attending the preschool session.