Ipswich High School Specia lEducation Department

This is a freshman special education class that stresses the fundamentals of reading, grammar, writing and improving these skills. Students work with fiction and non-fiction that are also studies in the regular education classes. The course emphasizes fundamental literacy, coherent writing and effective study skills in a small group setting.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Modified English 10 - 5 credits

This is a sophomore special education English class that emphasizes more challenging reading, writing assignments then the previous year. Students will read and analyze a wide variety of literature and vocabulary at the appropriate level for optimum advancement in the tenth grade curriculum, students will engage in more research based compositions at this level.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Modified English 11 - 5 credits

The focus of the Modified English class is to remediate the individual student’s levels in the areas of reading and written expression. A wide variety of materials, in addition to the Globe Fearon’s American Literature text, will be used over the course depending on the student’s needs at any particular time. In co-ordination with the Massachusetts English Arts Curriculum Frameworks, the class will focus on the following learning strands: Language, Literature, Composition and the Media.

The unit themes that will be covered in this course will include: Conflict: The struggle Within; Family: Close to the Heart; and the theme Danger and Adventure.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Modified English 12 - 5 credits

The unit themes that will be covered in this course will include: Heroes: Accepting A Challenge; Childhood: Looking Back; and the theme Nature: Close to the Earth.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Modified U.S. History - 5 credits

This is a small group modified History class offer by the special Education Department. This course starts with U. S. History from the French and Indian (1750) to the present. Students will progress at a slower pace. We will discuss development of the United States as a superpower, and the role the United Sates has in the world.

Prerequisite: Passing grades of U.S. History (World Cultures CP1 or Modified World Cultures 2) or Recommendation from the Special Education Department.

Modified Political Science - 5 credits

The focus of this class is to provide a basic understanding of the United States system of government, including the essentials of local, state and national government. In terms of local government, the class will be looking at the current town government structure and the role played by both elected and appointed officials. The class will also explore the strucutre of state government, the responsibilities of elected officials and the function of the state court system. The U.S. constitution will be examined, including its origins, impact on the workings of the Federal goverment, the creation of laws, the infuence of the District, Appellate and Supreme Court system and the inherent rights given to all citizens of the United States.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

This is a small group class taught by the Special Education staff for all students with Individual Education Plans. It is designed to strengthen skills and focus on preparing for MCAS testing for tenth graders by fine tuning skills in Math, English and Writing. This class focuses on open response questions, multiple-choice questions and responding to writing prompts. Test taking stragegies are also reviewed as well as helping students apply their knowledge by practicing various sample test questions.

Skills, developing organization and study skills - 5 credits

Skills class is a small group class of students who work on various skills that need remediation. These skills can include, but are not limited to, such areas as finding main ideas, context clues, inferences, sequential order, syllabication, and spelling of most often used words. This class is for students on an IEP and can also be used to help organize students who have these kinds of weaknesses. Skills class also allows some students to use the time for breaking down assignments that are given in regular education classes that students may be attending as part of their educational program. In this way skills class can help a student be more successful in regular education classes.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

The focus of this class is to assist students in continuing to develop the reading, writing and study skills to be an effective learner. A wide variety of materials will be used along with the use of the student’s regular classroom materials. Additional materials to be used include: Project Achievement Reading designed to assist students in becoming better readers and test takers; Specific Skill Series designed to provide students specific and concentrated experiences in reading for different purposes

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Small Group Reading Comprehension - 5 credits

This course is designed to help students who have reading difficulties to develop effective reading strategies in order to handle the curriculum demands of a high school program. Emphasis is on vocabulary development, skimming text for main ideas, highlighting important information, summarizing and outlining information. Students will be allow to use curriculum material from courses that they are currently scheduled.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Note: If students require a specialized reading program such as Wilson, Linda Mood Bell, they given individually.

Small Group Writing and Computer Class - 5 credits

The goal of the course is to assist students in becoming better writers and
improve their individual written expression skills. A specific writing
program will be utilized for the students who have demonstrated below grade
level written language skills.Direct instruction and guided practice in
writing compositions will be provided.Students will be taken through the
"Five Steps of Writing": prewriting, composing, review and revise and
editing/publishing. In conjunction with continued development of writing
skills, the students will develop their knowledge of technology.Computer use
will be an integral part of the course.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Small Group Science (Biology) - 5 credits

This class follows the state frameworks for Biology. The class is designed to prepare students for the vocabulary of science and learn problem solving strategies as well as interpretation of the scientific test. It is taught at a slower pace and uses hands activates that enhance learning.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from the Special Education Department

Fundamental Classes for Vocational/Life skills Program

Fundamental English

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction presented in a concrete format in the areas of reading and writing development. The course duration is throughout the whole school year and develops specialized instruction that reflects the specific needs of the students in the Life Skills Program.

Fundamental Math

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction presented in a concrete format in the areas of math. The major units covered are in the areas of time, money, measurement, fractions, percents and practical problem solving using the processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The course duration is throughout the whole school year and develops specialized instruction that reflects the specific needs of the students in the Life Skills Program.

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction presented in a concrete format of information in the areas of social understanding, geographical awareness and historical information that can be applied to their every day lives. The historical issues explored are range from the 1400’s in America to the formulation of the Constitution after the Revolutionary War.

Fundamental Science

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction presented in a concrete format in the areas Science. The major units covered are in the areas of Space, Earth and its features and Weather. The course duration is for a semester and develops specialized instruction that reflects the specific needs of the students in the Life Skills Program.

Vocational Development

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction in vocational training. The goal is to provide both in school vocational experience and community experience. The classroom is used to provide students with the many essential skills to be successful in many different work experiences.

The student population as selected by the Special Education Team for this course receives instruction in many areas that relate to independent living. Some of the topics covered are: nutrition, exercise, appearance, communication skills, conflict resolution, telephone etiquette, work preference, filling out a job application, interviewing skills, good work habits etc.

Fundamental English

Fundamental Math