CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

The educational model is designed using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. UDL provides flexible methods, materials, and assessments to help teachers differentiate instruction and meet the unique needs of all students. The curriculum is rigorous, relevant, and reflective. It is mapped to the Common Core Learning Standards, thus providing educators with valuable information about curricular strengths and weaknesses to support continuous improvement. Teachers are actively engaged in each students learning by incorporating technology, project-based learning, STEM-based projects, differentiated instruction, and various methods to meet the needs of each individual student. The Menta Group’s philosophy emphasizes personalization, preparation for life, and support for success. Other areas of instruction include:

• PBIS: Positive behavioral expectations are clearly identified, posted in all classrooms, and explicitly taught to students. Teachers and clinicians work together to teach students the skills necessary to meet these expectations, utilizing various social-emotional learning activities and strategies. Student efforts to display expected behaviors are supported and reinforced in a variety of ways, ranging from praise and public postings of successes and improvements to tangible incentives and rewards.
• Blended Learning: This is an innovative approach used to address the unique needs of individual students. The instructors combine traditional classroom methods and independent study to create a hybrid teaching methodology. It represents the need to incorporate technology into the classrooms, but also creates a new way for teachers and students approach the learning experience.
• Individual Student Agendas: Every student is treated as an individual to ensure their learning environment is the most effective on a daily basis. A new agenda is made each day by the student’s instructor and the student is empowered to take ownership of navigating their day with the support staff.
• Person-Centered Planning: This process is completed with the student and a team to assist with helping a young adult plan for the future. The process uses a personal planning approach to outline a roadmap for the student’s future built on their hopes and dreams to motivate their learning process and create realistic goals. The information from the process will be incorporated into the IEP/Transition document or into a career plan and shared with the entire support system of the student.

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