Curriculum

• Remediation of Basic Skills through Individualized Reading and Math

Progress is maximized by having each student begin at his or her current level and taking into account individual learning styles. Issues of self-esteem and frustration are minimized through fostering self-awareness and –understanding of individual
strengths and weaknesses.

• Multisensory Scaffolding

Learning is made more efficient by using multiple sensory channels simultaneously: Visual (sight) - Auditory (hearing) - Kinesthetic (movement) - Tactile (touch)

• Math Manipulatives

• Sand – Writing

• Multisensory Scaffolding

Perceptual Development Exercises
also help overcome some of the
problems associated with Learning Disabilities.

• Learning Strategies

These are task-specific, rather than subject-
specific, and help make learning more effective
and efficient; they include: memory devices/word identification/reading comprehension/text-book
reading/sentence, paragraph, & essay writing/
study skills/ test-taking/organizational skills

• Challenging Literature, Science & Social Science

In spite of most Academic Achievement Center’s students having reading difficulties, advanced texts are utilized, with teachers and better readers doing most of the reading for everyone.

• Hands-on activities supplement textbooks:

- Rock & Insect Collections

- Animal Dissections

- Model & Diorama Construction

- Topographic Mapping

- Pond & Shore Sampling

- Mineral Identification

- Chemistry & Physics Demonstrations

- Electricity & Magnetism Exercises

- Historical Simulations

Additional support of concept understanding and literature comprehension is provided through use of videos and computer graphics. Academic Achievement Center was the recipient of a scholarship to participate in the Gifted LD curriculum at Johns Hopkins University.

• Animal Husbandry & Nature Study

Many of Academic Achievement Center’s students
are interested in working with animals. An animal room
houses an extensive menagerie of reptiles, amphibians,
and tarantulas.

• Tropical freshwater aquaria also are maintained.

• Marine aquaria have been maintained.

• An out building houses a rodent colony.

• Past projects included keeping chickens and growing vegetables.

Caring for animals or plants nurtures native interests and helps develop a sense of responsibility. For some students, it paves the way for career development.

Students help maintain the animals and participate in breeding projects.

Interested students attend local reptile shows and travel to herpetological conferences. Several students have participated in Lowery Park Zoo’s “Zoo Crew” program.

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• Creative Writing

Many ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER students have fantastic imaginations, but are reluctant to write because of poor handwriting. Various methods are used to help overcome this reluctance:

- Story Starters -Especially Silly Ones

- 'Tall Tale' Writing On Adding Machine Paper

- Combining Writing with Drawing

- Writing Poetry

- Ignoring Spelling Errors

- Ignoring Grammatical, Capitalization, & Punctuation Errors

(Last Two – During Creative Writing)

• Award-winning Art

Academic Achievement Center was
a recipient of a “Smart in Art” Scholarship
from The Lab School of Washington.

Academic Achievement Center was a
recipient of a “Proud Project” Award for a
Yearbook from the Learning Disabilities
Association of America.

Many of AAC students are very good artists:

- Most like to draw

- Others prefer painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, model construction, or one of the other visual arts

To nurture these strengths, Art is integrated into many other subjects, as well as being a separate class.

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• Art Appreciation

Exposure to the works of art masters and art of various cultures stimulates sparks of creativity in Academic Achievement Center students.

• Award-winning - DRAMA

Academic Achievement Center was a
recipient of a “Proud Project” Award for a
production of “Hamlet” from the Learning
Disabilities Association of America.

Academic Achievement Center
performed productions of “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Richard III”
at State Conferences of the Learning Disabilities Association of Florida.

• Annual Public Performances Since 1988

- All Students Have Roles

- 6 To 8 Week Effort

- Performances Are Held At the James McCabe Theater in Valrico (15 Years)
Improves Reading, Memory, Self-Esteem/Confidence, Social Skills, Cooperative
Ability
- Nurtures Natural Ability of Many Academic Achievement Center Students.

- Students assist with set, prop, & costume production, as well as directing & script
editing.
- AAC students have also produced 2 videos with original scripts.

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• Music Appreciation

Academic Achievement Center students
listen to music of different types:

- Classical music is discussed & is
accompanied by drawing exercises

- Folk Music Launches Discussions on Social
Issues

- Roots of Rock & Roll Focuses on Origins of Modern Rock

- Students who play musical instruments bring them to school and play for the class.
- Students have accompanied AAC performances.

Some students have played in the Armwood High School percussion band and Patel Conservatory “Rock And Roll Blowout” while attending Academic Achievement Center.

• Field Trips & Travel

Academic Achievement Center students
go on a number of field trips each year.
These have included trips to:

• Siesta Key & Gandy Bridge (Marine
Collecting)

• Lettuce Lake & USF Riverfront Parks (Fresh
Water Collecting)

• Lowery Park Zoo

• Florida Aquarium

• MOSI

• Tarpon Springs

• Theater & Orchestra Performances

• Disney World’s Epcot Center

• Universal Studios

• New York City

• Washington, DC

• Boston

• Southern Arizona

• The Florida Keys

• Costa Rica

• Mexico

For the past 12 summers, groups of ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER students have spent 2 weeks in the Peruvian Amazon, staying at a jungle lodge, exploring the rainforest, visiting native villages, fishing for and swimming with piranhas!

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• Scientific Learning’s “Fast ForWord”

This computer-based phonological-
awareness training program reduces timing
deficiencies at the heart of many reading
disabilities.

• Interactive Metronome

This computer-based program also is
concerned with timing and can improve
attention span.

• Academic Progress

Progress is demonstrated by students taking the Stanford Achievement Test at the beginning and end of the school year.

Many Academic Achievement Center students demonstrate significant gains – even 2, 3, 4, or more years – in multiple subtests each year.

Since many Academic Achievement Center students remain for a number of years, these gains continue to demonstrate lasting cumulative progress.

Many Academic Achievement Center students reach post-high school levels in multiple subject areas.

As a school we are required to report any physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or child neglect. We are aware of the signs to look for in these types of cases, and a list of these area posted in our class room and in the student handbook.

All employees and agents of a public school district, charter school, or private school have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety or welfare of a student.

To report any abuse call 1-800-96-ABUSE or go to www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report