Programs and Curriculum

     SOAR Academy uses the Rae Schaper Literacy Curriculum: Read It Once, Read It Twice, Read It Once Again. This curriculum touches all domains of learning (language, cognitive, motor, self-help, socialization, music and rhythm). Incorporated into this curriculum is the use of Mother Goose rhymes.

One February we read "I LOVE YOU" by Jean Marzollo. Check out one of our bulletin boards for this book!


     SOAR uses Edmark Reading Program which is a sight word reading approach. This program is taught individually at the student's pace. The lessons are reinforced with computer activities that come with the curriculum.   Children with special needs learn differently from their typical peers. For many children who never master beginning reading and language a carefully sequenced, highly repetitive sight word approach offers the highest probability of success. The Edmark reading program is such an approach. It teaches frequently used words using a highly structured word recognition method. Vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills are developed through this approach.
      SOAR supplements its reading program with Reading A to Z which is a guided reading program allowing students to work at their own individual reading level.    We also use Language Master as a supplement to site vocabulary.

SOAR utilizes Handwriting Without Tears which is a simple, developmentally based curriculum for writing readiness, printing, and cursive. This program was developed by Jan Olsen, an occupational therapist who has specialized in handwriting for more than 25 years. The multisensory lessons teach to all learning styles - visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic.

We use TouchMath, a multi-sensory teaching approach that bridges manipulation and memorization. The program is designed to ensure all students succeed at the concrete level of development and then progress through the pictorial level at their own pace. After these basic learning needs are met, when higher levels of concrete thinking develop more easily, TouchMath launches students into symbolic math learning.

Micah works on Edmark Reading in the computer lab.

Grace works on TouchMath.

Other curriculum areas include science, social studies and the arts. SOAR Academy welcomes local performing artists each month in addition to our regular classroom activities.
All therapy disciplines and curriculums are integrated at SOAR Academy. Therapists and teachers work together to incorporate therapy into the classroom setting and curriculum based objectives into therapy sessions. Integration provides for a more cohesive treatment and educational plan for each student. Parents, therapists and teachers work closely together at SOAR Academy utilizing a team approach to produce an optimum environment for student achievement. Integrated therapy and early intervention for children with special needs are the essential elements to our program's proven success.

Physical Education was added to our program this year. Ms. Connie comes and works with students in many healthy fun ways. Ms. Connie has been so wonderful to volunteer as our PE teacher this year. In addition to YOGA, students are also able to participate in The First Tee program, offered at The Creek Golf Club. The First Tee Life Skills Experience, a curriculum for teaching character education through life skills, is one of the unique features that differentiates The First Tee from other youth initiatives and junior golf programs, and ultimately strives to instill in participants The First Tee Nine Core Values -- honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment. To learn more about First Tee, check out their website by clicking here.