Eagle Hill Curriculum

Eagle Hill School provides remedial and compensatory programming for children with specific learning disabilities. Using a total language development approach in an ungraded, non-competitive setting, students are provided with individualized instruction. Because learning disabled children do not all learn through the same teaching method, one of several programs may be used to instruct academic skills; however, emphasis on explicit, direct instruction is a cornerstone of all of Eagle Hill’s instruction. Diagnostic teaching is a crucial component of the Eagle Hill program. Student skills and needs are assessed daily, and instruction is tailored to accommodate each child’s learning profile. Use of a structured scope and sequence of skills, task analysis, frequent review, and careful integration of mastered with new skills are all hallmarks of the Eagle Hill philosophy. Often learning disabled youngsters also experience difficulty in social skills development. Remediation of these skills is also provided. Close communication between teachers, specialists (e.g., speech and language therapist) and administrators allows each child’s total program to be consistent, well structured, and highly individualized.

Eagle Hill’s language immersion program provides each child with a daily tutorial in language arts accompanied by additional language classes. Our youngest students who have a tutorial that meets once a day will also be enrolled in writing, literature, and oral language classes. Students who have a tutorial that meets twice a day will be enrolled in writing and literature classes, and our older students who have a tutorial that meets once a day are enrolled in writing, literature, and study skills classes. Instruction within the daily language classes includes emphasis on decoding, phonemic awareness, structural analysis, reading and listening comprehension, handwriting, written expressive language, mechanics and grammar, spelling, oral language development, and vocabulary. Additional courses of study include math, science, and social studies.

Fine arts instruction is also offered during the school year. Art classes meet weekly and music classes meet weekly for half of the year. A variety of activities including drama, chorus, pottery, arts and crafts, physical education, dance, and team sports are also offered during afternoon activities. An hour long proctored study hall is provided for students during the afternoon schedule as well.

During a child’s final year at Eagle Hill, he may be placed in a language arts program, which prepares a student for return to a more traditional program. In these classes demands more closely approximate a traditional program. Textbook use and grades are reintroduced, and the requirement for independent application of skill increases.