7037 Professional Parkway, Sarasota FL 34240 - (941) 538-6822
Our Program
The Sea Of Strengths Academy offers a unique learning environment for students with learning
disabilities, speech-language disorders, ADHD, or those simply not performing on grade level in
reading and math. Our school serves students in grades 1-6. Through a combination of
intensive skills building, and high-interest learning activities, students can gain the skills they
need to succeed.
disabilities, speech-language disorders, ADHD, or those simply not performing on grade level in
reading and math. Our school serves students in grades 1-6. Through a combination of
intensive skills building, and high-interest learning activities, students can gain the skills they
need to succeed.
Our Philosophy
- We believe that children with learning disabilities possess many talents and abilities – a
“sea of strengths”. - We believe that the child is not defined by their disability.
- We believe that all children desire to achieve academic success.
- We believe that quality instruction by well-trained staff can change the life of a child
forever.
- We believe in the transformational power of encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- We believe that parents and family are a vital component in a child’s education and
success.
Curriculum
Reading
Reading is the cornerstone of a child's education. Without strong reading skills, students find
it difficult to perform in other academic areas. For this reason special attention is paid to
reading.
Reading has five critical components:
Reading is the cornerstone of a child's education. Without strong reading skills, students find
it difficult to perform in other academic areas. For this reason special attention is paid to
reading.
Reading has five critical components:
- Phonemic Awareness: Phonemic Awareness refers to the understanding that words
are made up of individual sounds or phonemes that can be moved and manipulated. - Phonics: Phonics refers to the ability to map sounds to the letters on the page.
Phonics is critical for accuracy in both reading and spelling. - Fluency: the ability to read with speed and expression.
- Vocabulary: Knowledge o what words mean.
- Comprehension: The ultimate goal in reading, comprehension refers to a student's
ability to gain meaning from what they have read.
As pictured in the diagram to the right, all of
these components are critical in developing
strong and confident readers.
In helping students improve their reading
skills it is important to start with an
assessment. The information gained from
the reading assessment helps to determine
which areas students need help in. The
assessment also provides a baseline to
measure progress.
The following are some of the approaches
used in working with students on bulding
reading skills.
Wilson Reading - This program uses a
multi-sensory, systematic and explicit
approach to teaching phonics skills.
Through direct instruction students work to
build their skills in sounding out unfamillar
words in reading and spelling.
these components are critical in developing
strong and confident readers.
In helping students improve their reading
skills it is important to start with an
assessment. The information gained from
the reading assessment helps to determine
which areas students need help in. The
assessment also provides a baseline to
measure progress.
The following are some of the approaches
used in working with students on bulding
reading skills.
Wilson Reading - This program uses a
multi-sensory, systematic and explicit
approach to teaching phonics skills.
Through direct instruction students work to
build their skills in sounding out unfamillar
words in reading and spelling.
Students progress through Wilson Reading at their own pace, after demonstrating
mastery in both reading and spelling.
mastery in both reading and spelling.
Lindamood-Bell Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) - The LiPS program is designed for
students who need help in the area of phonemic awareness. These students typically are
having difficulty distinguishing between sounds. By providing students with tactile cues,
they are able to better distinguish between sounds in words. One example of this can be
seen in looking at the sounds made by "f" and "th". These two letters make simillar
sounds, but there is a difference in how these sounds are produced. When you make the
sound for "f", you can feel air on your bottom lip. This sound is known as a "lip cooler".
The sound for "th" , in contrast, requires you to stick out your tongue. This is known as a
"tongue cooler". In the LiPS program students gain the phonemic awareness skills
needed to become a strong reader.
students who need help in the area of phonemic awareness. These students typically are
having difficulty distinguishing between sounds. By providing students with tactile cues,
they are able to better distinguish between sounds in words. One example of this can be
seen in looking at the sounds made by "f" and "th". These two letters make simillar
sounds, but there is a difference in how these sounds are produced. When you make the
sound for "f", you can feel air on your bottom lip. This sound is known as a "lip cooler".
The sound for "th" , in contrast, requires you to stick out your tongue. This is known as a
"tongue cooler". In the LiPS program students gain the phonemic awareness skills
needed to become a strong reader.
Visualizing And Verbalizing - This program is designed to help students who are
struggling in the area of comprehension. Through V/V students are taught to create
images as they read. Through the use of 12 structure words, students create vivid
images from text. The process starts small, with a single word or sentence. As student's
progress they are able to image a whole page of text as a time. Students who have gone
through the V/V program often describe the experience as "creating movies in their head".
struggling in the area of comprehension. Through V/V students are taught to create
images as they read. Through the use of 12 structure words, students create vivid
images from text. The process starts small, with a single word or sentence. As student's
progress they are able to image a whole page of text as a time. Students who have gone
through the V/V program often describe the experience as "creating movies in their head".
Great Leaps- The Great Leaps program addresses fluency through the use of timed
reading drills. Through spending a few minutes each day of these drills students are
often able to make tremendous gains in their reading speed and accuracy. To begin,
students are assigned drills where they can read approximately 80% of the words on a
page in one minute or less. Students continue on a drill until they are able to read all the
words in one minute or less, with 2 or fewer errors. The difficulty is gradually raised as
students progress in fluency development.
reading drills. Through spending a few minutes each day of these drills students are
often able to make tremendous gains in their reading speed and accuracy. To begin,
students are assigned drills where they can read approximately 80% of the words on a
page in one minute or less. Students continue on a drill until they are able to read all the
words in one minute or less, with 2 or fewer errors. The difficulty is gradually raised as
students progress in fluency development.
Access To Age Appropriate
Books - Students who are
struggling in reading often lose a
great deal by not being exposed to
appropriate books for their age and
grade level. According to the
national reading panel, students gain
much of their vocabulary through
reading. Students who don't read,
due to deficits in reading skills, wind
up missing out on vocabulary
development and critical content
knowledge.
Books - Students who are
struggling in reading often lose a
great deal by not being exposed to
appropriate books for their age and
grade level. According to the
national reading panel, students gain
much of their vocabulary through
reading. Students who don't read,
due to deficits in reading skills, wind
up missing out on vocabulary
development and critical content
knowledge.
In order to expose our students to books, students have access to books on mp3 and CD
format. Classroom activities and social studies and science lessons provide additional
opportunities to expose our students to content that is high-interest, and recognizes their many
strengths and abilities.
format. Classroom activities and social studies and science lessons provide additional
opportunities to expose our students to content that is high-interest, and recognizes their many
strengths and abilities.
Math
For students to understand math, they must understand what is happening behind the
operations. An understanding of math concepts helps students to understand relationships
between numbers. In order to help students build math skills, we have selected the Math U
See program.
Math U See - This program uses a multi-sensory and systematic approach to learning math.
Students are taught using a variety of manipulatives to help students "see" what is happening
when they work with numbers.
Like our reading programs, Math U See uses a systematic approach. Students begin with an
assessment to determine their current level of math skills. This helps to place the student in
the appropriate level. Students then progress through the math sequence, demonstrating
mastery at each level. Math U See spans a broad range of concepts, from basic addition to
algebra and geometry.
For students to understand math, they must understand what is happening behind the
operations. An understanding of math concepts helps students to understand relationships
between numbers. In order to help students build math skills, we have selected the Math U
See program.
Math U See - This program uses a multi-sensory and systematic approach to learning math.
Students are taught using a variety of manipulatives to help students "see" what is happening
when they work with numbers.
Like our reading programs, Math U See uses a systematic approach. Students begin with an
assessment to determine their current level of math skills. This helps to place the student in
the appropriate level. Students then progress through the math sequence, demonstrating
mastery at each level. Math U See spans a broad range of concepts, from basic addition to
algebra and geometry.
Writing
In teaching writing, we focus on to major components, penmanship and writing composition.
Handwriting Without Tears: This programs helps students improve penmanship through
hands -on activities. With daily practice students are able to improve their ability to forms
letters correctly.
Writing Skills: The writing skills series focuses on writing composition skills. Instruction in
grammar and writing mechanics helps students to create writing assignments that expresses
their thoughts and ideas.
In teaching writing, we focus on to major components, penmanship and writing composition.
Handwriting Without Tears: This programs helps students improve penmanship through
hands -on activities. With daily practice students are able to improve their ability to forms
letters correctly.
Writing Skills: The writing skills series focuses on writing composition skills. Instruction in
grammar and writing mechanics helps students to create writing assignments that expresses
their thoughts and ideas.
Social Studies and Science
Social Studies and Science provide out students with opportunities to shine. Instead of
focusing on traditional paper and pencil tasks, our students gain content knowledge through
hands-on theme base learning activities.
In developing Social Studies and Science curriculum, the Sunshine State Standards provide
structure and direction. The difference is in the format of instruction, and the varied
opportunities or students receive to demonstrate their knowledge.
Social Studies and Science provide out students with opportunities to shine. Instead of
focusing on traditional paper and pencil tasks, our students gain content knowledge through
hands-on theme base learning activities.
In developing Social Studies and Science curriculum, the Sunshine State Standards provide
structure and direction. The difference is in the format of instruction, and the varied
opportunities or students receive to demonstrate their knowledge.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |