Our Lower School
We believe a balanced, traditional academic approach best serves the needs of our students. In addition, we take advantage of all the benefits offered through the latest technology, and by using multi-sensory instruction we are able to address the different learning styles of the students.
Parent involvement is highly evident in the Lower School and is both valued and encouraged. Field trips and events are enhanced by parents who frequently assist with these activities. We work hard and play hard in the Lower School.
Typical Class Offerings
Reading Tutorial
Handwriting
Critical Area Math
Social Studies
Reading Comprehension
Modern Digital Citizenship
Science
Multi-Sensory Math
Written Expression including Content Writing
Social Thinking Program
Organizational Time
specials: Art, PE, Music and Movement, Photography/Journalism and Executive Functioning
Foundational Kindergarten Program
The John Crosland School Foundational Kindergarten Program serves as a bridge from kindergarten to first grade. Preschool children exhibiting early signs of learning difficulties are often difficult to diagnose with a learning disability because they have not had ample opportunity for educational instruction. The John Crosland School supports research in this area and believes there is a need for early intervention. Our program’s function is to provide students with the time to develop the fundamental skills needed for success in school, as well as provide an age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and a supportive learning environment.
Social Skills Program
The Lower School offers an innovative Social Skills program, which is designed to promote skills for learning, emotional management, empathy, and problem solving. The character development class is taught by Mrs. Elaine Triantis, Lower School Director. The curriculum is designed to help students with:
1 Recognizing emotions in oneself and others
2 Managing strong emotions
3 Having empathy for others
4 Controlling impulses
5 Communicating clearly and assertively
6 Maintaining cooperative relationships
7 Making responsible decisions
8 Solving problems effectively
Educational Management Plan (EMP)
Each student has an Educational Management Plan. Parent-Team Meetings are held to review and discuss the student’s progress and needs for each class.
In preparation for the EMP we not only work with our students via guidance lessons and individual sessions with Crosland’s School Counselor, we also provide each family with an EMP Parent Form to help them target both short and long term goals for their child.
Counseling & Student Support
in lower school counseling, we place an emphasis on self-awareness, social awareness, executive functioning, and transition planning. in addition to these overarching themes, our students take part in weekly social skills lessons and girls group. these programs are intended to strengthen our students’ social/emotional skills while also encouraging our students to be active in their school community.
Orton-Gillingham Methodology
The Orton-Gillingham methodology is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia. In the hands of a well-trained and experienced instructor, it is a powerful tool of exceptional breadth, depth, and flexibility. The highly structured approach introduces the idea of breaking reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds and then building on these skills over time. It also pioneered the “multisensory” approach to teaching reading. This means that instructors use sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect language with letters and words.
We celebrate and embrace every child’s unique needs when it comes to education. We would love to speak with you more about your child and find out if the Crosland School is the right choice for you and your family!