Special Education Department

Welcome to the Boonville Middle School Special Education Department. We have eight teachers in our department:

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION:

Remediation at Boonville Middle School is offered for a semester for both 7th and 8th graders. 8th grade students attend the first semester and 7th grade students attend the second semester. This class is designed to remediate students in any area where the student is lacking skills. This class is taken as an alternative to their regular study hall. Students are placed in remediation by school personnel based on previous ISTEP scores. Some students may be placed back in their original study hall if ISTEP results report a passing grade. Special Education- (Moderate and Life Skills)- The moderate and life skills classes are designed to focus on the individual needs of each student.

The classes aim to educate the students in life, social, and vocational skills. Our students obtain hands on experience in life skills by cooking, cleaning, bed making, and washing and folding laundry. The students participate in community based instruction twice a month by going on outings in order to work on social, money, vocational and life skills. Each morning, the students work on their hygiene skills by brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and applying deodorant. The students also have vocational instruction. Each student is given a job to perform to work on responsibility and task completion. The jobs are given in the classroom as well as in the school and out in the community.

Our program emphasizes social skills as well. Depending on their least restrictive environment, some students are mainstreamed or included in regular education classes in order to develop their social interaction skills. Other students work on verbal and non-verbal communication including communication boards and sign language. The classes also have peer tutors who work with the students on a daily basis and attend the community based outings. Academically, the classes work on reading, writing, and math skills. The classes adapt the curriculum for the individual needs of each student based on his or her "Individual Education Program." Some students are included in the regular physical education classes, while all of our students participate in an adaptive physical education class. Our students also participate in speech as well as physical and occupational therapy as needed. Special Education- Resource and Remedial Class Resource classes are designed for students whose abilities are below grade level.

The curriculum is the same as the general education and the textbooks are often the same. Classes are taught at a slower pace with reinforcement activities. Remedial classes are designed for students who need a self-contained classroom with a curriculum to meet their individual needs. The curriculum follows the same standards used in the general education classes. The books used in the remedial classes contain the same information found in the general education textbooks. Both classes work on behavior modification, social skills and coping skills. Special Education- Resource and Remedial Class Resource classes are designed for students whose abilities are below grade level. The curriculum is the same as the general education and the textbooks are often the same. Classes are taught at a slower pace with reinforcement activities. Remedial classes are designed for students who need a self-contained classroom with a curriculum to meet their individual needs. The curriculum follows the same standards used in the general education classes. The books used in the remedial classes contain the same information found in the general education textbooks. Both classes work on behavior modification, social skills and coping skills.

Program for Emotional Support

In general, the focus of this program is to teach students with emotional disabilities (ED) to control their behavior through positive behavior management programming.  Careful team planning is conducted to determine the environments in which each student is most likely to be successful based upon their individual needs.

Social skill training is provided as a regular part of the curriculum when necessary.  This part of their programming is conducted in a structured class setting for those students who need to participate.

The focus of the social skills training is to provide students with adaptive skills. These skills will assist in successful interaction in the home, school, and community environment.

Community based instruction experiences are scheduled regularly throughout the year. This not only creates a desire for the students to continue their education, but also serves to help create "citizens." Participation in this program is based on the students' behavior.

To further assist students with making the connection between academics and the "real world," students are provided the opportunity to participate in the school-based business development program.

In order to help students with ED to think beyond themselves, they are provided with opportunities to engage in fund raising and philanthropic opportunities that are directed solely towards the betterment of others.  Students will volunteer monthly as Manna Market in Boonville.

Each middle school ED program utilizes positive behavioral support programming to reinforce and encourage students to make positive behavior choices throughout the course of the school day.