Lesson Plans

A curriculum is only as good as its implementation. With our focus on self-determination and citizenship, our curriculum encourages members to understand and explore the community around them and build skills they need to be life-long learners. It is expressed by way of carefully prepared and customized lesson plans that are used throughout the day and offer a variety of opportunities for members to express themselves, get to know their peers, and find ways to practice the skills that are most relevant to them personally.

Each lesson plan relies heavily on examples, visuals, questions for members, and discussion. They also include clear directions for staff who will be leading the lesson, in order to ensure consistency, engagement, and impact. Lessons clearly to our curricular domains – self-care and responsibility, social connectedness and communication, citizenship, creative expression, and vocational readiness. 

Content is built around identified needs based on staff-collected observations of members’ performance on outings and in groups. They feature didactic learning components, as well embodied activities and sensory-based skill practice to support integration of learning. 

Our staff are expert clinicians with backgrounds in speech pathology, expressive and art therapy, trauma therapy, social work, and occupational therapy. They create a calm, kind space where everyone can feel safe and ready to do their best. They get to know every member, their strengths, and their goals deeply. This environment encourages engaged, highly interactive learning experiences that closely tie to our curricular goals and the individual needs of our members.