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Key components of Hillside’s program:
- 3 hour daily program focusing on skill development in reading, written language and math
- Classes limited to a maximum of 4 students per teacher
- Implementation of multi-sensory teaching methods based on current research establishing approaches that are most effective
- Individualized instruction based on the specific needs and levels of each student
- Skills taught in small, manageable amounts with a focus on reaching mastery before new skills are added
- Immediate feedback to reinforce correct responses
- Frequent charting allows students to monitor and be involved in their own progress
Structure of the day and other logistics:
- Students may attend either the morning session (8:00-11:00 AM) or the afternoon session (12:00-3:00 PM). The balance of the day is spent at the student’s regular school
- Approximately one hour is dedicated to each of the academic areas—reading, written language and math
- Hillside teachers interface with teachers from the student’s regular school as needed
- Hillside School’s calendar coincides with Boulder Valley School’s calendar
- Transportation is the responsibility of the individual family with support from Hillside for carpooling
Methods
- Skills are explicitly taught and student’s level of mastery is tracked as the learning progresses. This helps eliminate the frustration of moving forward before fully learning important, prerequisite skills
- Multi-sensory approaches are used to help fully learn the material presented
- Strategies are incorporated throughout the curriculum to ensure mastery and also independence with skills taught
- Wherever possible, fluency—the speed with which students can apply skills—is increased
- Repetition, frequent review and application of skills being learned is interwoven throughout the program
- “Best Teaching Practices” are employed as discussed in current neuroscience research such as Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz (see News and Director’s blog for articles)
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