enrolling 3rd - 9th grade students now for this and next school year!
3rd - 8th grade ProgRam
Our 3rd - 8th grade Full-School Program is an amazing environment for our students with Dyslexia, ADHD and Non-Traditional Learners. Academy teachers are wonderfully caring and supportive souls who understand that many of our students come to us feeling defeated, made to feel dumb, told they can’t read, or just feel like they don’t “fit in” because of their academic challenges.
We focus on rebuilding our students’ confidence by teaching each student at their own level. Our students begin to experience success and they quickly realize that they have amazing gifts, are unique individuals, and can conquer the world with their special talents.
Our amazing 3rd - 8th grade program specializes in helping extraordinary children with Dyslexia, ADHD and Non-Traditional Learners.
In our 3rd - 8th grade Full-School Program, classes occur Monday-Friday and start at various times in the mid-morning (9am or 10am). It includes 4 academic classes of 50 minutes each (see below). We can create alternative schedules/times, should we have enough students (2) from a similar time zone or have similar scheduling needs. Students participate in these 4 academic classes below each school day.
ACADEMIC CLASSES (Monday – Friday)
- Structured Literacy – Wilson (50 minutes)
- Reading Comprehension with Phonemic Awareness or Spelling (50 minutes)
- Writing (50 minutes)
- Real-Life Math (50 minutes)
Each Academic class above is led by an amazing teacher who specializes in their respective content area.
Our amazing 3rd - 8th grade program specializes in helping extraordinary children with Dyslexia, ADHD and Non-Traditional Learners identify and cultivate their GREATNESS.
Classes in full-school program
Wlson Reading System Structured Literacy
Structured Literacy is a critical part of The Academy Way model. Research demonstrates that Structured Literacy is the most effective way to help students who have Dyslexia, other severe reading challenges, language processing issues, and/or poor writing and spelling skills. In fact, current research shows that a Structured Literacy program is the best way to teach all children, as well as those with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Non-Traditional Learners how to read.
The Academy Virtual and all of the schools of The Academy Way Network of Schools, use the Wilson Reading System as our Structured Literacy program of choice. We use this system for our students because of the decades of research and demonstrated success it has made in the lives of children of all ages. Since the start of our first school in 2020, our students have also experienced tremedous growth and success while using the Wilson Reading System.
Real-Life Math
During Math classes we focus on real life applications while building basic computation skills. Students are given examples of when they may use each skill in real life. Lessons are built around students' needs and incorporate a multisensory approach. Students may experience music, art, pencil to paper work, computer work, games and calculator work among other engaging activities.
Reading Comprehension w/ Phonemic Awareness
The reading comprehension class is designed to strengthen and improve fluency, vocabulary comprehension, reading comprehension, and oral communication skills. Students will determine what will happen next in a story, cite textual evidence of what the text says explicitly, determine the central/main idea, explain how the author develops the point of view, dissect figurative language, and identify metaphors/similes while reading a text they enjoy.
Phonemic awareness is a key ingredient missing in the classroom today. Using Heggerty Bridge the Gap curriculum we will focus on developing the students phonemic awareness skills.
Writing
In writing, students create descriptive, narrative, informative, and opinion pieces. They write about what they know and find interesting, and this makes it fun! They also create real-life writing like letters, instructional steps, and descriptive restaurant menus they'll see and use in everyday life. We also learn about the 8 parts of speech, grammar, and the writing process, from brainstorming to publishing.
We have daily writing warm-ups that can be anything from describing a picture of a hot air balloon to playing "What is it?" Students also learn how to write in cursive and sign their own names. I incorporate art, movement, and students' interests to make writing a fun, challenging class. I love seeing reluctant writers turn into creative writers who love the process!
Spelling
This class uses the All About Spelling Curriculum. This award-winning seven-level program provides complete and comprehensive instruction using the Orton-Gillingham approach.