The class program at TALC Academy follows the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines, but the program is modified to meet individual learning needs. Class sizes are small and range from 13 in the early primary grades to 15 in the junior and intermediate divisions.
We develop a TALC Academy Program Plan (TAPP) for each one of our students. This program plan summarizes a student’s learning strengths and needs. It indicates what specific educational approaches and methods are best suited to help a particular student learn. We individually develop the program for each child. Each program is individualized according to a child’s learning profile.
The TALC Academy Program Plan (TAPP) also includes an accommodation checklist that outlines specific accommodations that must be put into place for each individual student. Accommodations could include such things as the use of a calculator in math, scribing assistance for tests, the use of a computer for written assignments, the use of colour coding as part of the reading program, instructions to be written on board as well as delivered orally and more. Our goal is to put into place the specific and individual accommodations that will allow each child to be successful Some examples of program accommodations may include:
* teachers will provide copies of lecture/lesson notes to all students
* use of the computer or Alpha Smart or laptop computer for tests and all assignments
* use of calculator for math
* oral testing
* un-timed tests
The Resource Program is an integral part of the school. Each day children receive thirty minutes of daily intervention in an area of need. This could include one to one or small group reading intervention, reading comprehension, written language development, math remediation, math problem solving or curriculum comprehension, study skills and organization. From each daily session homework activities are provided in order to reinforce the skills taught.
The class program is adapted to meet the needs of the individual students. Our teachers teach children – not just cover bodies of curriculum. In our Junior and Intermediate grades we focus on teaching the students how to learn. Teachers routinely use a variety of assignment types including essays, projects, tests, exams, oral presentations, public performances, drama and group work. They place an emphasis on process marks as well as final products. All of the teachers extensively use visual aids and concrete materials to enhance learning.
In the primary grades the class program works intensively on developing reading and decoding skills using a variety of specialized instructional programs. For students with processing and memory disorders a traditional phonics program is not the best approach. These types of students have difficulty remembering different sound units and blending these units together. For these students, an approach that can use their visual strengths is preferred. Colour coded word families is an approach that has been very successful with students who have memory and auditory processing difficulties. Students are also taught to recognize high frequency words by sight. In addition phonics is an important part of the early reading program. Students are taught the rules of phonics using familiar nursery rhymes and songs: an approach which greatly enhances their recall of these concepts.
Our teachers help the students learn to be successful on unit tests. Keeping a well organized notebook is an essential school skill. Our teachers work with the students and teach them organizational strategies. However, they also provide students with a copy of teacher notes to ensure that students have a complete and accurate set of notes to study from. When it is test time, the staff instructs students how to make study notes on cue cards, how to plan their study time and how to answer various types of test questions. For students who need help with reading test questions or having test answers scribed for them, assistance is made available.
In the Junior and Intermediate grades, the creative writing program uses lots of graphic organizers and semantic maps in order to help students fully develop their thoughts. Direct instruction in grammar and grammatical structures is an important part of the classroom program.
Students are taught different reading comprehension strategies that they can use when reading both fiction and non-fiction materials. Classroom reading programs are individualized according to specific student needs. For many students weekly spelling tests are incorporated into their language arts program.
All of our classes have access to our science lab. The lab is used to provide students with hands-on instruction. The lab includes microscopes, chemicals, test tubes, beakers and even a skeleton. Student interest in science is greatly enhanced through the use of the science lab.
Intermediate students have a class in Food and Nutrition as part of their program. Students are instructed on healthy food choices, menu planning and cooking and baking skills. All of the students enjoy eating their food creations!