We believe children learn best in an environment in which they have an active role in their own learning. We believe in a learning process that is individualized and social in context. Children construct knowledge through a variety of hands on experiences which support various learning styles at an individualized pace. We believe multi-age grouping of children combined with a positive, child-centered curriculum is the best formula for the success for the children at The Parish School.
Our Program.
Philosophy
Our developmentally appropriate language curriculum was developed by Robbin Parish, M.A., CCC-SLP, with input from noted specialists including Tina Bangs, Ph.D., Elizabeth Carrow Woolfolk, Ph.D., and the experienced teaching staff. The academic curriculum in levels III through VII is based on the Texas Education, Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) .
Our early intervention program for “at risk" children provides consistency and concrete, reinforced receptive and expressive language experiences. The goal is to teach to the strengths of each child before he or she fails, experiences frustration, becomes angry, exhibits discipline problems, tunes out and gives up, or suffers a loss of self-esteem.
The Intra-Curricular Activities Teachers, also known as ICATS, are an integral part of the overall program at The Parish School. The creative and dramatic arts are an area of strength for many of our students with a large percentage of Parish School graduates continuing to further develop their artistic talents. By harnessing a child's natural talents in this area, teachers are able to help them build a more positive self-esteem while developing expressive, receptive and pragmatic skills.
Curriculum
Program Goals
* Successfully mainstream children into traditional school programs.
* Educate the parents to be strong advocates for the appropriate educational placement and needs of their children.
Program Objectives
* Identify those children at risk
* Teach a language experience-based curriculum
* Provide a positive, nurturing environment to help each child build a strong self-esteem
* Devise individual treatment plans which will enhance each child's learning strengths
* Utilize learning strengths to teach each child how to compensate for learning weaknesses
* Help children develop problem-solving skills
* Involve parents in the educational management of their child
* Group children according to their strengths and needs by using multi-aged groupings in each classroom
Premise of the multi-age classroom
* Mixed-age children who remain with the same teacher for several years
* Development of a classroom "family"
* Child-centered rather than curriculum driven
* Development of the whole child (social, emotional, physical, moral, aesthetic, cognitive development)
* Flexible groupings
* Use of authentic assessment
* Children have the opportunity to learn from each other as well as from the teacher
* Individualized instruction
* Hands-on learning experiences
* Children gain understanding of how they learn best and become advocates for themselves
* Positive, nurturing atmosphere that promotes self-esteem
Level Objectives
Click on a level below to download an overview of skills mastered by students in that level.
