Program
| Our well-designed, carefully planned and developed curriculum at Pineland Learning Center is guided by the needs of the student, the student’s IEP, the NJ Academic Standards (CCCS) and the Federal No Child Left Behind Act. All instruction is planned to increase skills and knowledge for individual student growth and toward proficiency in statewide assessments. Our campus has two full-time Curriculum Supervisors and a consulting LDT-C to assist teachers to adapt/modify the curriculum for each student's unique needs, and to supplement classroom instruction. Additionally, students may be grouped accordingly to instructional levels, specific remedial needs, or may receive supplemental instruction. Classrooms are limited to a maximum of 12 students with a teacher and a teaching partner. Each student has his or her own “office”, which is beneficial for organization, minimization of distraction and setting the boundary of personal space. Teaching staff and clinicians are instructed in the methodology of “differentiated instruction”, which starts with the immediate identification of each individual’s learning style upon their admission to PLC. At that time, the student’s unique strengths and weaknesses can be understood and addressed in the classroom, both in the delivery and assessment of knowledge. Educational activities include presentations, role playing, model building, demonstrations, cooperative learning, laboratory activities, technology integration and directed textbook activities. Evaluations include standardized tests, quizzes, laboratory reports, research papers, rubrics and special projects. Additionally, all academic instruction and curricular programming is presented and taught utilizing “executive functioning coaching”, which fosters the higher level brain development known as the executive functions. Collectively, these functions have been described as “a cornerstone for organized thinking”, and include self-monitoring, self-regulation, attention controls and planning ahead. Extension and infusion of our curriculum into all activities are the vital components of all PLC programming. Programs such as Environmental Science, Archeology, Forestry, Marine Science (which includes the Coast Guard Boating Course, Study Island, Career Education and Consumer/Family/Life Skills also function to provide a vital medium for “hands on” and multiple intelligence instruction. Character education is infused throughout the core content areas, and our team of clinicians address character education themes as part of group counseling. |
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