Academic Program
Green Chimneys School at Clearpool Campus follows the New York State academic curriculum designated for Intermediate School programs under Next Generation Learning Standards. All students participate in New York State Standardized Testing.
Our Education Team collaborates with families, service providers and home school districts to meet the individual academic and social-emotional goals of each student. All students receive counseling, and families are encouraged to participate in parent education and training offered several times throughout the year. Related services and support include speech/language and occupational therapies and vocational counseling to meet each child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Green Chimneys School Delivers Established Nationally Recognized Curriculums
As part of our commitment to our students and to provide a sense of familiarity and consistency within their academic progression, Green Chimneys School delivers established, nationally recognized curriculums that are used by many of our referring districts. Students receive a modified curriculum that supports the New York State Next Generation Standards and is based on their abilities, strengths/weaknesses, and individualized IEP goals.
Green Chimneys teachers employ the Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) model for teaching. Classroom lessons follow an “I Do, We Do, You Do” approach, which begins with teacher-directed instruction and transitions to a gradual release to independent tasks. This method incorporates whole and small groups, as well as individual instruction. Grade-level information is delivered to the students together as a group. Teachers use an ability-based method for students to demonstrate understanding, and for the teacher to assess each student’s comprehension of the material being taught.
Classrooms are equipped with current technology including SMART Boards, and students have regular access to computers to benefit from educational online resources. Each student is provided their own Chromebook to participate in classwork and complete homework assignments.
Green Chimneys students also benefit from the vast array of therapeutic programs and enrichment activities offered, connecting each child to nature as a means of developing social skills, improving self-confidence, and impart a general sense of well-being.
Mathematics
Math courses for students in intermediate grades are designed to help students reach learning benchmarks and achieve goals for each grade:
Grade 5
- Developing fluency with addition and subtraction of fractions, and developing understanding of the multiplication and division of fractions in limited cases (unit fractions divided by whole numbers and whole numbers divided by unit fractions)
- Extending division to 2-digit divisors, integrating decimal fractions into the place value system, developing understanding of operations with decimals to hundredths, and developing fluency with whole number and decimal operations
- Developing an understanding of volume
Grade 6
- Connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication/division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems
- Completing the understanding of division of fractions
- Extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers;
- Writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations
- Developing an understanding of statistical thinking
Grade 7
- Developing understanding of and applying proportional relationships
- Developing understanding of operations with rational numbers and working with expressions and linear equations
- Solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume
- Drawing inferences about populations based on samples
Grade 8
- Formulating and reasoning about expressions/equations, solving linear equations, and systems of linear equations
- Grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships;
Analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence - Understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Reading
The Intermediate School uses the Readers Journey series, a novel-based Language Arts program dedicated to turning students into lifelong readers. The curriculum focuses on reading, grammar, vocabulary and communication skills.
English Language Arts
Students learn and practice how to read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding, literary response and expression, critical analysis and evaluation, and social interaction.