Elementary

"In elementary school, children need to learn that there is a message
contained in words and words are everywhere.
We want our children not only to get the message but to create their own."
Dr. Tiegerman

SLCD's Elementary School program focuses on the relationship between language development and academic success with language and autism spectrum disorder from kindergarten through eighth grade.
SLCD uses a transdisciplinary program model to educate children. This approach requires a professional team of educators and therapists to coordinate each child's instructional goals and activities. Since the student to teacher ratio is small, there is an opportunity for differentiated levels of group instruction in all subject areas. Classrooms are organized by students' levels of developmental functioning. The staffing ratio of 12:2:2 reflects students' abilities to manage instruction in different social groupings. In sixth grade, students who require intensive and highly individualized therapeutic services can remain at Glen Cove for Middle School programming. Students who are developmentally ready to transition into a more academically and socially challenging educational environment attend the Middle School program in Woodside Queens.

Programming coordinates formal academic content areas with 90 minutes of intensive daily reading instruction: Orton-Gillingham, Milestones, Recipe for Reading, the Ed-Mark program and strategies from the Wilson. Students are evaluated to identify an appropriate reading program which emphasizes phonemic awareness and semantic language development. Fast ForWord is offered for those students with significant reading delays and an auditory processing disorder. Fast ForWord is available for those students whose IEPs list it.

The elementary grades at Glen Cove have a student Newsletter, School Store, Science Fair, Talent Show, Performances, Field Days, Poem in a Pocket Day, Art Shows and Assemblies among many other enrichment activities.

Students have opportunities to participate in various School Clubs to facilitate peer socialization. Students in the upper grades are encouraged to help younger students during specific activities. Trips and school activities are developed to connect students with community programs.

There is a 6.5 hours instructional day from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm with a thirty minute lunch period. Related services are intensive and highly individualized including: language, occupational, physical and auditory therapies. Our speech language pathologists specialize with children who have neurological disorders such as apraxia and central auditory processing disorders (CAPD). Each classroom in Glen Cove is equipped with an FM soundfield system to optimize teacher-student voice quality and increase students' listening skills. SLCD is committed to using state-of-the art technology to enhance classroom instruction to increase student learning. Parent training classes are scheduled during the day and evening to accommodate working families. Parent training is coordinated with classroom video viewing. Parents help to develop the curriculum presented by identifying the topics which are relevant to their children's needs. iPads are being used in occupational and speech language therapy to facilitate learning.

"We believe that language is a requirement for reading. We teach language first and then reading and writing. We focus on a child's unique language problems to teach him to read and to write. In elementary school the most important skill is reading. At SLCD, we know that reading cannot be taught without understanding a child's language deficits - that is why so many children are not learning to read elsewhere. Language and reading are partners like parents and teachers."
Dr. Tiegerman

The following services are available to our elementary school children and their families:

For more information about our Elementary School Program, please contact Dr. Mermelstein at the Admissions Office at 516.609.2000 ext. 112.

"Language, in essence, is a critical prerequisite for success in school and in life."

Definitions

Occupational Therapy

The purpose of occupational therapy in the school environment is to improve a child's sensory, perceptual, and motor skills so that he or she may succeed in school activities such as academics, play, and self-care. Some areas addressed in school-based occupational therapy include sensory integration, fine motor skills, visual-motor skills such as handwriting, and self-care skills such as eating and dressing.

All occupational therapy services at SLCD are provided on a one-to-one basis for children who have this service specified on their IEPs. An individual treatment plan is designed for each child based on his or her IEP goals.

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Physical Therapy

The focus of physical therapy at the School for Language and Communication Development is to improve a child's ability to negotiate the school environment safely and participate with peers. Areas addressed are: gait training, balance skills, sensory motor activities, body awareness, stair training, ball skills, strengthening activities, hopping, skipping and jumping. To receive physical therapy services, a child must have PT specified on their IEP. Services are provided on a 1:1 basis. An individual treatment plan is developed based on the child's IEP goals and home activities can also be suggested.

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