Language and mathematics are learned skills that are acquired easily by some students, and with varying degrees of difficulty by others. Genetic, neurological, and psychological factors may all contribute to a child's readiness and ability to master the basics in the environment of a mainstream classroom.

Since the ability to read is so essential in our society, many remedial schools focus their programs almost entirely on remedial language skills. In so doing, many special programs fail to explore the dimensions of each student's unique talents. We agree that competent language skills are a requisite part of every child's education, and for that reason, we provide individualized remedial language training as the core of Greenwood's curriculum.

A true education provides students with more than skills. Consider this:

• If a child's reading level is used to determine the content of academic classes,
  THEN the bright language-disabled student is intellectually deprived.



• If a student believes his scholastic progress is dependent on his weakest skill,
  THEN his search for knowledge is discouraged.



• If he is convinced that all facets of his learning require clinical instruction and support,
  THEN he is robbed of the joy of exploring his creative independence.

We believe the ability to reason, critique, debate, and create, to enjoy a fund of general knowledge, to set personal goals and to persevere in achieving them, are essential components of personal and academic success. Through a unique curriculum, strong in creative as well as functional studies, our students are intellectually challenged, creatively inspired, and factually informed.

Greenwood’s program is research-based and focuses on remediating academic weaknesses while developing each student’s unique talents. Students are grouped according to their abilities. They are involved in a stimulating curriculum guided by understanding, compassionate teachers and soon discover they can learn. As their confidence develops, motivation returns, and the process of failure and frustration will be reversed.

The Greenwood School strives to reawaken the enthusiasm for learning inherent in all children. We offer a full well-rounded pre-preparatory academic program that includes:

• Individualized remedial language training


• Writing


• Mathematics


• Science


• History and Social Studies


• Literature


• Art, Music, and Drama


• Speech, Communication and Remedial Speech


• Greenwood’s Village Program


• Computer Technology


• Athletics

The Greenwood Tutorial: Individualized Remedial Language Training

Greenwood's remedial language program offers students training in both beginning and advanced skills. A daily hour-long class is devoted to:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Comprehension
• Cursive writing and writing from dictation

Because many have experienced failure in mainstream classrooms, students often find it difficult to maintain interest in a challenging subject in a larger class. At Greenwood, we have found that a two-student language tutorial is preferable to one-on-one tutorials for the majority of our students. Students are paired according to both type and degree of learning problem.

The two-student language tutorial addresses individual needs, while providing an academic setting that is closer to the group atmosphere each will be expected to reenter in a mainstream school. It is an ideal setting for developing attention span. Since nearly all students are attentive when receiving one-to-one instruction, attention disorders are more realistically addressed when another student is present.

Tutors monitor student progress in all areas and provide "parental" support and encouragement within the larger community. Detailed and regularly updated records are kept of each student's mastery of specific skills.

A unified approach to language instruction is essential to the success of our students. Reading, writing and word attack skills are just as important in a science class as they are in an English class. All Greenwood faculty members receive intensive training in remedial techniques through the Greenwood Institute. This training deepens their knowledge of the structure of language and prepares them to apply competently remedial techniques, such as Orton-Gillingham, and to tailor lessons to address each student's specific needs. Ongoing supervision is provided by a master teacher and by an independent consultant.

Writing: The Application of Skills

When required to express himself in writing, a student who has difficulty in acquiring language skills is generally at his greatest disadvantage. To promote success in this area, we devote a full academic period each day to development of organized composition skills.

Morning tutorials concentrate on mastering:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Cursive skills
• Written expression for advanced students

However, students must still learn to apply these skills in the classroom. In writing classes, students practice:

• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Sentence and paragraph construction
• Creative and expository writing
• Organization of thoughts in a logical sequence

The Greenwood writing department is fully equipped with individual computers connected to the Internet for each class. All students learn to:

• Compose
• Type
• Edit
• Restructure their written work

In addition, prior to graduation, students receive practical instruction in developing and completing research and term papers.

Mathematics: A Process of Discovery

Mathematics classes at Greenwood are small with an average class size of four students and are grouped according to each student's performance level. Students who have particular difficulty in mastering mathematics fundamentals receive special attention. Concepts, computational skills, and first year algebra are taught.

The math program utilizes:

• Manipulatives
• Calculators
• Computers
• Techniques developed by our faculty to help students acquire necessary skills

Student progress is monitored. It is not unusual for a student to be moved into a more advanced class group during the course of the year. Students also learn to apply mathematical skills in our unique Greenwood Village Program.

Science

Reading and comprehension skills are a prerequisite for courses that depend on textbooks to inform and instruct students. The need for reading and comprehension skills causes many learning-disabled students to fall behind in subjects that require extensive reading.

Greenwood teaches a three year science course which balances:

• Lectures
• Discussion
• Computer-enhanced instruction
• Experiential activities with the lessons in standard elementary and middle school science texts

This integrated approach enables Greenwood graduates to enter science classes on a secondary level.

Studies include elementary and junior high:

• Physiology
• Zoology
• Botany
• Earth Science
• Physics

Our science curriculum encourages individual study. Greenwood's 100 acre campus is a natural site for students to learn about habitats and conservation. In addition, the science facilities promote and supervise Greenwood's ongoing recycling and environmental projects.

History and Social Studies

History and social studies courses generally require a great deal of textbook reading. Through a three year curriculum incorporating lectures, discussions, computer-assisted learning, and group projects, Greenwood provides students with a wealth of historic and geographic information normally acquired during the pre-preparatory school years.

For example:

• American and European history are augmented with geography and cultural studies.
  
• Use of textbooks, internet and library research, and report writing is stressed in the final year. Knowledge acquired in class is complemented by well-planned field trips to historical sites.
  
• One of the highlights of the year is our annual Gettysburg Address speech contest.
  
• The social studies faculty assist with the social and political aspects of our yearlong Village Program.

All academic subjects contain a language component. Because all Greenwood teachers are required to complete remedial language training, they are able to offer students a consistent approach to language learning skills in every class throughout the school day.