Welcome to Elementary
(Kindergarten to 5th Grade)
Program Coordinator: Victoria Romano
Curriculum: Unique Curriculum, Reading and Vocabulary A-Z, Expanded Core Curriculum, Ready Pennsylvania (Academic Literacy). All curricula are aligned with the PA Core Standards.
We value
Teamwork. Flexibility. Collaboration.
We are
Dynamic. Inspiring. Progressive.
“We are a community of many diverse members who come together to promote our love of learning and diversity.” - Elementary Teacher, Laren Simpson.
The Elementary Program is comprised of seven classrooms, each of which tailors individualized instruction to every student. The class sizes vary anywhere from four to seven students in a class, making small group instruction and individualized instruction in all content areas meaningful. The students have immediate access to materials prepared in their determined literacy medium such as braille, large print, auditory, etc., as well as access and adaptive technology. Our team of highly qualified teachers are specialized in the field of vision studies, with diverse educational backgrounds. We have select instructional staff who are proficient in sign language who implement lessons with a total communication approach. Additionally, our staff turnover is low--accumulating decades of experience, and allowing the staff to truly build a rapport with our students and their families, and collectively identifying the best ways to meet their needs.
In the Elementary Program, the Expanded Core Curriculum for students with visual impairment (ECC) is EVERYWHERE! We practice and develop skills in areas of the ECC throughout all times of the day, starting from the moment the students arrive at school in the morning. The ECC domains are infused during academic/ content area lessons, specialty classes, mealtimes, therapy sessions, and transitions. You can catch us working on orientation and mobility in the hallways or using communication devices to ask for help. You will find us practicing turn-taking on the playground, and developing sign-language skills in the cafeteria. Learning about the ECC in Elementary is just as prevalent as the A, B, Cs and I, 2, 3s.
Therapeutic staff work directly with our classroom teachers and instructional staff, collaborating on ways to implement best practices in a multidisciplinary approach for students. Classroom teachers and therapists discuss lesson plans and decide times that would be most beneficial for therapeutic staff to integrate their direct instruction into the already planned lessons and activities. Students benefit from ongoing support in the areas of social skills and self-advocacy during the application of learned skills in a generalized setting.
If you haven’t picked up on this yet, the students in the Elementary Program are busy! In addition to specialty classes aligned with the general education curriculum such as library, art, music, and gym, the students have the opportunity to participate in specially designed trips and activities developed through community partnerships with organizations such as Art-Reach and The Philadelphia Orchard Project. Additionally, students assist in the care and keeping of the award-winning Biddle Garden situated on the grounds right outside of the Elementary building.
Every class goes out into the community on several field trips per year. These real-world experiences give our students the opportunity to access new and unfamiliar environments while providing context for content directly related to the curriculum. These trips enhance background knowledge in areas such as the humanities, science, technology, art, and vocational skills.
Overbrook School for the Blind serves children who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities in every program. Every student regardless of their ability level has an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) developed to meet their specific needs. Each program is aligned with the PA core standards and the Expanded Core Curriculum for students who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities. Overbrook’s teachers are highly qualified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and our therapists have a wealth of experience and professional development working with students with visual impairments. Our cutting-edge educational programs use low and high tech assistive technology to support our students. Staff receives on-going professional development in all areas of visual impairment including Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) as well as in other specialty areas, state-mandated training, and core subjects. Our staff shares their expertise presenting at state and national conferences.
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