ABLLS

ABLLS is an assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skills tracking system for children with language delays. The ABLLS contains a task analysis of the many skills necessary to communicate successfully and includes various functions of language, self-help, motor, and academic skills to learn from everyday experiences. The assessment enables teachers to identify a young learner’s skills and deficits in order to establish a baseline and structure an IPP. The ABLLS protocol provides criterion-referenced information regarding a child’s current skills, along with a curriculum that will serve as the basis for the selection of educational objectives. A set of grids is also included to provide a skills tracking system allowing parents and professionals to document a child’s progress and their acquisition of the skills.

For publicly placed students, Rivers Bend Academy will work in conjunction with the placing school to determine which assessments will be needed to develop the IEP.

The Wilson Reading System addresses the following areas:

phonemic segmentation
alphabetic principle-sound/symbol relationships
decoding
encoding (spelling)
advanced word analysis
vocabulary development
sight word instruction fluency
comprehension with visualization and metacognition

Fluency

Students have multiple opportunities to develop quick and automatic recognition as well as prosody and expression. Fluency Kits include repeated reading practice using controlled text that is 95-100% decodable.

Handwriting

Gross motor memory and consistent verbal directions are used to teach Level K-1 students manuscripts letter formation, and cursive handwriting in Level 3. Letter information reinforces sound mastery. Consistent practice in general handwriting will continue to improve legibility at all levels. Emphasis on the signature and functional writing will be done with the older students.

Written Comprehension

Encoding is taught in correspondence to decoding patterns. Students dictate short passages and systematically learn pronunciation, capitalization, and proof reading skills. This will be done through manuscript as well as key boarding.

Comprehension

Although Fundations includes some aspects of comprehension, such as visualization, retelling, and the structure of narrative expository text, the program will be combined with a more formalized literature structure.

TouchMath

Touchmath is the leading, multi-sensory teaching approach that bridges manipulation and memorization. Students interact with numbers on paper by seeing, saying, hearing, and touching numbers as they arrive at the right answers without guessing. They learn math facts by using auditory reinforcement, flashcards, and timed tests. Educators often think of it as mental manipulatives.

TouchMath follows sequential learning strategies advocated by eminent learning theorists such as Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner. Consisting of 56 math kits, workbooks, and teaching aids, the integrated curriculum has evolved carefully since 1975.

Parent Participation and Communication

All parents of students enrolled in Rivers Bend Academy are encouraged to participate in his/her child’s program as well as the school events. Each professional working with your child will provide ongoing communication and quarterly documentation regarding your child’s progress. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, annual reviews, IPP/IEP updates, quarterly report cards, and daily/weekly correspondence. Parents also have access to monthly group parent meeting/training which are held at Rivers Bend Academy.

State Wide Assessments for Publicly Placed Students

Rivers Bend Academy will administer state wide assessments in accordance with a student’s IEP. Rivers Bend academy will align each student’s program/curriculum by following the pacing guide of the placing school division. No one school division’s pacing guide will be adapted to Rivers Bend Academy. This is to ensure that each student will be prepared for reentry into the placing school district. Rivers Bend Academy will work with the placing school district on the student’s instructional track.

Certificate of Completion

Rivers Bend Academy does not provide instruction at the high school level in content areas for credit. Students graduating from Rivers

Bend Academy will receive a certificate of completion stating that he/ she has met the goals on the IPP/IEP. No diploma will be awarded.

Transportation

Children not utilizing transportation provided by Rivers Bend Academy will be transported by parent. There will be a fee (to be determined) for the transportation which is provided by Rivers Bend Academy.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students/Religious Affiliation

Rivers Bend Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin, religion, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, and other school administered programs. Rivers Bend refrains from religious instruction or worship and is not affiliated with any religious institution or program.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Staff:

Rivers Bend Academy will hire employees of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded to staff at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin, religion, or disability in administration of its hiring policies.

Rivers Bend Academy will admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, to privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin or religion, in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, and other school administered programs.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment and abusive techniques and interventions are not authorized, permitted, or condoned at Rivers Bend Academy. Corporal punishment is prohibited in the state of Virginia and we will report an act of corporal punishment as child abuse.

If Child Abuse or Neglect is Suspected

If a child is suspected to be in immediate danger, the suspicion will be immediately reported to the Lead Teacher, Assistant Director, Designee or Director who will contact Child Protective Services.

If there is an allegation of abuse or neglect, the Director and/or Designee will contact Child Protective Services, the Virginia Department of Education, and conduct an internal investigation.

All child abuse reports remain confidential.

Complaint Resolution Procedures

All complaints should be put in writing to the Director of Rivers Bend Academy. Complaints should be signed by the parent or teacher and received by the Director within 2 weeks of the incident. The individual submitting the complaint can expect a response from the Director within 2 weeks of the Director’s receipt of the signed complaint. Additionally, complaints can be brought to the attention of Carolyn White Hodgins, Virginia Department of Education, Specialist Private Day Schools, at (804) 225-4551.