Programs

Alternative Learning Program

 

North Reading Middle School

Sherman Road ~ North Reading, MA. 01864

Phone: (978) 664- 7823

Fax: (978) 664-1237

Contact: Judy Carter M.Ed

 

The SEEM Collaborative Alternative Learning Program is a language-based, substantially separate classroom for middle school students within the age range of 11 to 16 years. The program primarily serves students who require a small, structured classroom, in which tasks are broken down and presented concretely. Students present with moderate to severe disabilities, including primary diagnoses within the autism spectrum, neurological impairments, intellectual impairments, language processing disorders, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The nature of these student's cognitive, language and social skills warrant placement in a highly structured environment with consistent daily routines and positive reinforcement.

Students enrolled in the Alternative Learning Program have experienced a number of difficulties and learning issues in less restrictive settings. The program offers a low student to staff ratio with staff working collaboratively in creating academic and social activities for whole classroom groups, as well as for individual students. All curriculae taught follows the standards specified in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Student's academic programs are individualized according to their current performance level and goals and benchmarks as outlined in their IEP. Curriculum Frameworks Standards are adapted for individual students due to cognitive, language and social skills issues that greatly impact student performance in all academic areas.

All students participate in small reading groups, focusing on phonics instruction and reading comprehension. The reading comprehension component includes the opportunity for vocabulary review, pre-reading and post-reading discussions, as well as provide students the opportunity to respond to questions based on material read. The students are taught through specific strategies, including emphasis of meaning-based cues, such as context clues, to practice predicting, comprehending and decoding material. As part of the language arts program students have weekly assignments to write and word process with correct punctuation, spelling and grammar, with fading teacher assistance over time.

Students work on a wide range of math instruction, including basic computation skills and problem solving activities. The major emphasis of math instruction is on learning functional skills that include and relate to real life applications. Students benefit from frequent review of money skills and opportunities to explore various vocational choices.

Each student participates in a structured science and social studies program. Science classes are provided in a group format encouraging students to improve critical thinking, problem solving, predicting and sequential reasoning skills. Social studies classes focus on local geography, economics, current events and citizenship. Students are taught their individual rights and responsibilities as citizens, as well as how to participate and travel within their community. Students also focus on learning to travel within their community.

On staff at the SEEM Collaborative are speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, teachers of the visually impaired and hearing impaired as well as social workers and psychologists. Therapies are provided in accordance with individual students IEPs and, as much as possible, are provided in an integrated way.