EC CORE CURRICULUM

🎯 Intended Use:

Unique Learning System is a one‑of‑kind solution designed specifically to help students with special learning needs to master their state’s extended standards. From one convenient, cloud‑based platform, educators deliver differentiated, standards‑aligned content enhanced by powerful assessments, data tools, and research- and evidence‑based instructional support. Students from Pre-K through transition have the advantage of consistent, high-quality instruction, a motivating interactive learning environment, and a path to independence.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

Required curriculum for students on the Extended Content Standards (ECS). This includes 

• K-12 Autism classrooms, 

• K-5 Developmental Needs classrooms, 

• 6-12 Intellectual Disabilities-Extend classrooms, and 

• K-12 Multiple Disabilities classrooms

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from n2y.

• Teachers must create and update student profiles in ULS, administer checkpoints and benchmarks, and follow district timelines for completing units. 

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Unique Learning Systems: Set-up and Implementation,” “Unique Learning System: Lessons Planning,” and “Unique Learning System: Data Collection & Analysis.”  

🎯 Intended Use:

News-2-You is a symbol supported online weekly newspaper that presents world events (sports, current news, entertainment) in four differentiated levels for students to engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and families about world events. The issue-based learning in each weekly edition of News-2-You includes standards-aligned articles and activities to help students build life skills, become more motivated learners, and discover career options. Aimed to support students with developing new critical-thinking and communication skills that are comprehensive and context relative to their community and world. 

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

Required for secondary students on the Extended Content Standards. This includes

• 6-12 Autism classrooms

• 6-12 Intellectual Disabilities-Extend classrooms, and

• 6-12 Multiple Disabilities classrooms

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Daily for an average of a 20 minutes per day

• Can be utilized whole group, small group, or 1:1

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from n2y.

🎯 Intended Use:

SymbolStix PRIME, the evidence‑based symbol communication tool, provides that lifeline, ensuring everyone has access to learning, language and self‑expression. SymbolStix PRIME provides busy teachers with the tools to simultaneously create and deliver quick print and interactive communication and learning materials in the format that best meets their particular classroom needs. Teachers can also embrace their multicultural classrooms through the ability to easily change skin tones and generate symbols and text in English, Spanish and 10 other languages. Teachers can quickly develop, save, search and reuse activities and communication board templates to enhance instruction, easily customizing and pairing symbols and words for any situation.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

Required use for students on the Extended Content Standards. This includes

• K-12 Autism classrooms, 

• K-5 Developmental Needs classrooms, 

• 6-12 Intellectual Disabilities-Extend classrooms, and 

• K-12 Multiple Disabilities classrooms

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Daily for an average of a 20 minutes per day

• Can be utilized whole group, small group, or 1:1

• 60,000+ dynamic symbols

  • Multicultural symbols

  • Create interactive activities

  • Create communication supports for academics, life skills, social emotional skills, and behavior support

  • Symbol database includes English, Spanish, and 10 other languages

  • Embedded in ULS and News2You

  • Data Collection & Reporting on assigned activities

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from n2y.

🎯 Intended Use:

TeachTown Elementary Social Skills is designed to teach children skills to improve social interaction. With a video-modeling episode for each targeted social skill, students are able to view appropriate social interactions as demonstrated by an engaging cast of characters, and the teacher-driven lesson plans enable students to then practice these skills in the natural setting. Data collection tools are also provided. Five domains are covered: following rules, interpersonal skills, self-regulation & coping, good communication and friendship.

TeachTown Middle Social Skills offers teachers a comprehensive curriculum to teach crucial social skills, with a focus on increasing emotional intelligence and building self-management skills. This program utilizes evidence-based practices, such as video modeling, peer-mediated instruction and intervention, and visual supports, to teach appropriate, positive social skills and replacement behaviors. TeachTown Middle School Social Skills includes teacher-driven lesson plans that encourage the students to practice the appropriate social skills in the school setting along with their peers, interactive activities to build comprehension, and an online Comic Strip Builder where students can build their own social comics.  Data collection tools are also provided. Six domains are covered: building & maintaining relationships, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, self-awareness, personal care and safety & community participation.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Elementary: 4 - 8 years old (Recommended populations: AU, DD, ID, ED)

  • Designed for students who have a minimum language level of 4 years.

• Secondary: 9-15 years old (Recommended populations: AU, ID, ED)

  • Designed for students who have a minimum language level of 4 years.

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Daily for an average of a 20 minutes per day

• Utilized in small group

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from TeachTown.

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Setting-Up and Implementing TechTown Social Skills Program.” This is required for new K-8 AU, K-5 DN, 6-8 IDE, and K-8 MU Ex specialized program teachers. 

🎯 Intended Use:

• Transition to Adulthood was built around evidence-based practices to meet the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities.

• It uses point-of-view video modeling, task analyses, computer-based lessons, teacher-delivered lessons, and visual supports to teach a range of critical, functional skills.

• Includes an online assessment tool for progress monitoring

• Computer-based lessons can be linked to student IEP goals

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

Required for secondary students on the Extended Content Standards. This includes

• 9-12 Autism classrooms

• 9-12 Intellectual Disabilities-Extend classrooms, and

• 9-12 Multiple Disabilities classrooms

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Default session length is 25 minutes, varies by student

• Can be utilized small group or 1:1

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from TeachTown.

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Setting Up ad Implementing TeachTown Transition to Adulthood.”

🎯 Intended Use:

Centervention is an online social emotional learning intervention to help students improve social, emotional and behavioral skills.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

Use for students K-8, including

• K-8 COPE (Required)

• 6-8 Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Common Core classrooms

• K-8 Resource

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Session length varies by program, but approximately 30 minutes 1-2 times per week is recommended

• Students can access program independently on computer

• Returning users can use the same log-in as previous years

• New users: Your account will be set-up by Krista Saunders and you will receive log-in information via email from Centervention.

• Additional student licenses can be requested through Centervention Social Skills Program Request Form

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Centervention Social Skill Program Training.”

🎯 Intended Use:

Handwriting Without Tears and Building Writers are programs using multisensory techniques to teach handwriting, early literacy skills and writing. Handwriting Without Tears provides explicit handwriting instruction using child friendly language, step by step models, and a scaffolded approach to letter learning and mastery. Building Writers moves beyond handwriting to provide scaffolded support in writing fluency, language, and vocabulary. It introduces students to narrative, information, and opinion writing using cross curricular topics. 

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Instructional program for students in grades K-5 Autism, grades K-5 Developmental Needs, grades K-5 Community Outreach Program for Education (COPE), and grades K-5 Multiple Disability classrooms. 

• This resource is also available to grades K-5 resource teachers upon request. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Learning Without Tears provides a series of free webinars on the topics of critical skills readiness, handwriting, and keyboarding. 

• Lesson plans and student materials can be accessed in the Google Drive.

• Hard copy student materials can be requested through the Learning Without Tears Student Workbook Order Form.

• Teachers receive digital accounts that allow them to assign digital licenses to students to accompany the work books. 

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Learning Without Tears: Interactive Teaching Tool 2005 Overview.”

🎯 Intended Use:

HelpKidzLearn is an online platform offering a collection of accessible software specifically designed for children with special needs. It makes online learning accessible to students of all ages with severe, profound, and complex needs through ready made materials, games, and activities. 

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• This resource is provided to all K-12 Multiple Disability specialized program teachers. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Returning teachers will access this resource online with their existing log-in.

• New teacher accounts will be set up by Tonja Recktenwald and log-in information will be sent via email.

🎯 Intended Use:

Boardmaker provides symbols and pre-made curriculum to help students access their learning. It has a vast collection of standardized picture symbols used for communication with students who are strong visual learners. It allows educators to create, edit, and share materials. In addition it has a collection of social and emotional learning tools, including books, software, and visual schedules.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Boardmaker offers a series of self paced modules designed to help users learn the features of Boardmaker. 

• This resource is provided to all K-12 specialized program teachers. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Returning teachers will access this resource online with their existing log-in.

• New teacher accounts will be set up by Tonja Recktenwald and log-in information will be sent via email.

• The EC Department provides Professional Development entitled “Boardmaker Online Curriculum Core First Learning.”

🎯 Intended Use:

Language for Learning is a highly systematic and explicit Direct Instruction program. New Oral Vocabulary, Information and Background Knowledge, Expressive and Receptive Language Skills are introduced carefully and integrated with previously taught content. The focus of Language for Learning is oral expression. Daily exercises provide the building blocks of listening and reading comprehension by teaching the language of instruction (the phrases and vocabulary used by teachers in instructional settings), word knowledge, common information, concepts, sentence forms, classification, and problem solving. All skills and concepts taught are continuously integrated into more sophisticated exercises.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Instructional program for students in grades K-2 (can go through grade 5 based on student needs) with language needs that receive services in the resource or specialized program setting. 

• Students in the resource setting that do not test into the first level of Reading Mastery or Corrective Reading. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Professional Development on student placement and program implementation.

• Hard copy materials provided by the EC department with submission of completed placement tests. 

• Daily small group implementation for 30-45 minutes.

🎯 Intended Use:

Reading Mastery is a complete basal reading program that uses the Direct Instruction method to help students master essential decoding and comprehension skills. The program places particular emphasis on teaching thinking skills and helping students acquire background knowledge. Program materials include fully scripted lessons to guide teachers through carefully constructed instructional steps - modeling new content, providing guided practice, offering individualized practice, and applying skills. It also utilizes a special orthography designed to assist students identify letter sounds. The special font is later phased out and replaced with traditional orthography. It specifically targets Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Spelling.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Required instructional program for students in grade K-3 with reading decoding goals that receive services in the resource setting. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Professional Development on student placement and program implementation.

• Hard copy materials provided by the EC department with submission of completed placement tests. 

• Daily small group implementation for 30-45 minutes.

🎯 Intended Use:

Corrective Reading provides intensive and accelerated reading intervention. The Direct Instruction program delivers tightly sequenced, carefully planned lessons that give struggling students the structure and practice necessary to become skilled, fluent readers and empowered learners. It specifically targets Reading Decoding, Fluency, and Vocabulary. Decoding lessons range from instruction in letter sounds and blending to the reading of sophisticated passages such as those found in content-area textbooks. With progress through each level, students read increasingly more difficult material with accuracy, fluency, solid comprehension and improved study skills.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Required instructional program for students in grade 3-8 with reading decoding goals that receive services in the resource setting. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Professional Development on student placement and program implementation.

• Hard copy materials provided by the EC department with submission of completed placement tests. 

• Daily small group implementation for 30-45 minutes.

🎯 Intended Use:

Direct Instruction math program for K-5 resource students. 

Combines facts, procedures, conceptual understanding, applications, and problem-solving skills to provide a comprehensive curriculum for students. The program stresses understanding and introduces concepts carefully, then weaves them together throughout the program. Lessons are designed to introduce concepts at a reasonable rate and help students make connections between important concepts. The lessons provide the practice needed to achieve mastery and understanding.

🪜 District Level Implementation Support:

• Required instructional program for students in grade K-5 receiving math instruction in the resource setting. 

📋 Program Use Requirements:

• Professional Development on student placement and program implementation.

• Hard copy materials provided by the EC department with submission of completed placement tests. 

• Access to online instructional resources and online data collection platform.

• Daily small group implementation for 30-45 minutes.