Curriculum Overview

List of 7 items.

• Reading Program

  UFLI

  Reading specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to practice new skills in the classroom. The in-class reading program at Vincent Smith uses UFLI, a research and evidence-based program developed at the University of Florida. It follows a carefully developed scope and sequence, designed to ensure that students systematically acquire each skill needed and learn to apply each skill with automaticity and confidence. The program is designed to be used for core instruction in the primary grades or for intervention with struggling students in any grade.
  
  Additionally, classroom teachers use a multi-sensory approach, which provides help in the following areas:

  • Phonological awareness
  • Phonics
  • Fluency
  • Decoding and encoding skills
  • Vocabulary
  • Reading comprehension
  • Written expression

• Social Skills

  Our Social Skills program provides students with academic and life skills instruction, including communication, decision-making, goal-setting, problem-solving, conflict resolution, empathy, teamwork, and time management. All students have a social skills class built into their schedule, regardless of whether they receive related services or not.
  
  The program includes specific skills in each lesson, along with learning objectives and multi-sensory activities, and addresses all the appropriate age levels at Vincent Smith. It is organized into elementary, middle, and high school levels, which helps to reduce redundancy over the years in using the same program.

• Related Services

  Students requiring services, as identified through evaluations, are seen by on-staff providers during the course of the school day. On-site services with specialized instructors include:

  • Reading therapy
  • Speech/language therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Counseling
  • Resource Room
  • Every attempt is made to schedule special services so that they do not interfere with core academic classes.

• Physical Education Program

  Physical activity is essential to healthy physical, social and mental growth. A scheduled program of physical education at all grade levels is required by New York State Education Law. Students at Vincent Smith are required to attend two periods of physical education per week (unless otherwise directed by a physician).

• Arts Program

  All students are offered art and music each trimester. The aims of the program are to contribute to the development of art and music skills, appreciation, and personal enjoyment for our students. At times, the classroom teacher combines the art program with other classroom work. A Talent Show and Student Art Show is sponsored every spring. Both faculty and peers view the artwork by category, and prizes are awarded. Art is also offered as an extracurricular activity each day.

• Technology

  The Vincent Smith School continues to update and upgrade its computer equipment and peripherals. Students in the lower school receive computer instruction weekly. Classroom sets of computers are available throughout the school for class use. Kindles are also available on a one-to-one basis in the lower school, and chromebooks in the upper school. Additionally, teachers incorporate research and computer skills as part of their classroom teaching.

• Vocational Explorations in Education Program (VEEP)

  VEEP is an alternative, transitional program for high school students who are not college-bound. It is designed to teach life skills, independence, and self-advocacy.
  
  Students learn basic skills such as consumer spending, daily routines, and health and safety. They are also exposed to a broad spectrum of experiences to enrich their social, communication, and intrapersonal skills.