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The CASE Collaborative "LEAP” Program is located at the Concord Middle School, Sanborn Building. The chart below represents a typical distribution of program time in the CASE class at Sanborn. Interested parties are advised that:
(1) Classroom activities often fall into more than one program category; areas of programming should be perceived as
"overlapping" and not so distinct as they appear in the chart.
(2) This chart represents a typical program distribution for students currently in the program. Individual student programs will vary, as will the distribution of program areas for new
students who might enter the class in the future.
Program Description
The staff of the CASE Collaborative class located at the Sanborn Middle School in Concord consists of a teacher, teaching assistant(s), and occupational, physical and speech therapists. At times a psychologist, behavioral consultant and sign language interpreter have been integrated into the program when needed.
Working as a team, the staff implements the goals of the Individualized Educational Plans of the students in the class.
The LEAP Program typically services globally delayed middle school children 11-14 years old, although students as young as 10 and as old as 15 have been in the class. The curriculum is rich in applied academics which offer the students new contexts for learning basic skills. LEAP extends the school experience into a variety of areas. Examples include, but are not limited to: weekly community-based learning experiences, mainstreaming opportunities, and increased use of personal computer time and life skills, including fitness. There is a strong behavior and social skills component to the program. Students are given opportunities to apply these skills in the mainstream. Throughout the year units on various community resources are integrated into the curriculum, (i.e., hospitals, post office, department stores, etc.). The use of technology in the classroom is an important instructional component of the program.
The LEAP Program is most appropriate for students who have outgrown an elementary school atmosphere and for whom an adolescent identification is seen as timely and growth inducing. They are also students whose ability to learn basic academic skills when presented in a traditional format has leveled off in recent years. They need more hands-on and application-oriented learning opportunities, with greater emphasis on repetition, consistency, and generalization. The LEAP Program is often a precursor for vocational programming when students complete grade 8 and move to a high school setting.
Curriculum:
In alignment with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, the following is an overview of what a student’s individualized program might include. Each student’s schedule is customized to fit his/her particular needs.
Reading/Language Arts
Personal Journals
Reading Using Pictures and/or Symbols
Reading for Pleasure and Comprehension (phonics, sight/words,whole language)
Spelling
Functional Sight Reading
Math Skills
Numeration
Time Skills
Money Skills and Money Management
Calendar Skills
Calculator Skills
Addition and Subtraction
Problem Solving
Measurement
Science/History and Social Science
Units will be based on the Curriculum Frameworks
Language Skills
Expressive and Receptive Language
Vocabulary Development
Telephone Skills
Articulation
Sign Language
Pragmatic Language (functional use)
Augmentative Communication
Fine Motor Skills
(Fine motor and visual perceptual motor activities are integrated in cooking, dressing, wood shop, pre-voc, art, leisure time, etc.)
Writing Skills (print and cursive)
Computer Skills
Eye Hand Coordination Tasks
Bilateral Hand Activities
Arts and Crafts
Dressing/Undressing
Eating Skills
Gross Motor/Gym
Physical Fitness (exercise program)
Maneuvering in the School and Community Environment
Recreation/Leisure Activities
Swimming
Health/Human Growth and Development
Safety Survival Skills (strangers, fire safety, etc.)
Body Parts (external and internal)
Puberty and Body Changes
Fitness and Nutrition
Personal Hygiene
Social Skills
Play/Leisure Skills
School Rules
Social Etiquette
Group/Independent Work
Feelings/Friendships
Adult/Peer Relations
Domestic Skills
Grocery Shopping
Cooking
General Shopping
Dining Out
Using Community Services (library, post office, etc.)
Community Safety
Pre-Vocational Skills
Clerical
Custodial
Assembly
Woodworking
Gardening
Measuring
Food Preparation/Cleaning
School Store
Gift Wrapping Service
Recycling
Mainstream Opportunities
Homeroom, Peer Tutors (reverse mainstreaming), Lunch, Gym, Technical Arts, Music, Health, Chorus, Library, After School Activities, Assemblies, Field Trips and Graduation Activities are typical opportunities for mainstreaming at Sanborn. In most instances a CASE staff member accompanies students when they are in integrated activities in the mainstream.
Please note that all mainstream experiences may not be appropriate for every student. Mainstream schedules are developed through consultation with parents and may be affected by availability of space and facilities in the school program as a whole.
After School Activities
A weekly after-school activity program is available to students in the CASE class at Sanborn Middle School. This program is provided in three units during the course of the year (fall, winter, spring). Each unit is six weeks long. After-school activities are held at Sanborn, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Parents are asked to arrange for participating students to be picked up at 4:30. The after-school activities program is run by CASE staff, and is designed to enhance student recreational and leisure skills.
Summer Program Component:
Students whose IEP's specify summer programming may continue in the CASE LEAP program beyond the normal close of school in June. CASE provides a five-week extension of the program each summer at the Parker Damon Building in Acton, an air conditioned facility. The summer program continues to address the students' IEP objectives in much the same way as the regular school year program does. However, integration with children who do not have special needs is not available during the summer session .
Additional information
Additional information regarding the CASE LEAP Program may be obtained by contacting the CASE Collaborative office in Concord or by speaking with the special education office in a CASE member school district.
Please direct inquiries and referrals to:
Rory Liebmann, Assistant Director
978-318-1535
rliebmann@colonial.net
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The CASE Class