What is the Best Curriculum for Students with Learning Differences?

By Laura Spaulding Staff Writer/Consultant

After serving students with learning differences and disabilities for almost three decades, one of the most common questions we receive at The Joy School is, “What curriculum do you use?” While we understand the importance of curriculum and resources to learning success, the answer is as complicated and varied as the kids we serve. Instead of constantly researching and studying the ever-changing curricular options or automatically adopting the newest teaching trends, we ask ourselves: Who is this student sitting in front of us, and where is this child independently successful? Once we know the student’s strengths, we ask what they need from us to move forward from this point. These questions have proven infinitely more critical to students' long-term success than questions regarding specific teaching philosophies, strategies, or curriculums. 

Just as no two students are the same, no two journeys to success are the same. We work closely with students and families to understand each child’s unique learning profile, and then students are grouped and taught based on the type of instruction they need. Because our class groupings are based on student needs, each teacher might have a slightly different emphasis or approach, utilizing various tools, resources, teaching strategies, pacing, and curriculums. The most vital resource we offer our students is our analytical-minded and professionally trained teachers and staff, committed to figuring out what contributes to each child's struggle and the recipe for that particular child’s success

While The Joy School utilizes a scope and sequence, we also know that no one-size-fits-all program can address the needs of every student. Our faculty and staff are collectively trained in various learning differences and disabilities, curriculums, teaching strategies, learning tools, technologies, and resources, and every decision we make is based on the unique needs of our current students. A combination of academic instruction and our Keys to Success is how the magic happens. Our 12 Keys to Success are the most important predictor of a child’s success and a significant part of knowing if a child is ready to mainstream. Each Key is a unique, though not independent, attribute that we intentionally teach our Kindergarten through eighth-grade students. They are fundamental values and skills beyond academic remediation and accommodation that set our students up for success- the unspoken rules for school and life enabling us to directly teach executive functioning and social pragmatic skills through our curriculum and in real-time.

Ultimately, we teach kids "how to learn" and "how to do school." One of the vehicles for accomplishing that is through various curricula that have been researched, tested, and proven effective for children with learning difficulties. The lists referenced below from our website are not endorsements for specific curricula nor an exhaustive list of every resource available for teaching students with learning differences or specific learning disorders. Any of our classrooms might be using one or none of the resources we reference, depending on the needs of the kids. 

 

Lower School Curriculum

Our lower school students in Kindergarten through 5th grade receive instruction in reading fluency and comprehension, sentence and paragraph writing, handwriting, mathematics, science, social studies, technology and engineering, physical education, fine arts, and social pragmatics. All lower school students also have a Language and Cognitive Development Class with a certified Speech and Language Pathologist.

 

 

Middle School Curriculum

What is the most important thing a student needs to learn before high school? How do you prepare middle school students for high school independence? Our middle school program emphasizes executive functioning and study skills to prepare students for success in high school. Academic instruction is provided in all core subject areas, including English/ Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. Assistive technologies and other learning accommodations are individually matched to each student’s needs, enabling them to grow in continued self-awareness and self-advocacy skills as they progress toward high school readiness and learning independence.

Electives are offered to middle school students, including art, music, engineering, and technology classes. All students are exposed to many study skills and executive functioning strategies to help them succeed in learning and life. These include note-taking, study guides, research, and time management skills. Based on our Keys to Success and each of our four core academic subject areas (English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), our teachers strategically emphasize different executive functions, assistive technologies, and learning accommodations to expose all students to a variety of tools and strategies setting them up for success

Our people-intensive, team approach ensures no cracks for any student to fall through, enabling us to confidently address each student's unique needs through our Keys to Success and various teaching strategies, resources, and curriculums.

For a sampling of some of the reading, writing, and math curricula and resources our teachers use, visit our school curriculum page.