Program Management and Data

Collection - Technology Project

With the assistance of funds from the Litemor Foundation, the Gregory School has invested in a number of hand-held computers (PDAs) to assist in the delivery and management of Discrete Trial programming that we implement for some of our students. The project allows for the coordination of goals across multidisciplinary teams. It increases the accuracy of the data collection and the efficiency of program delivery. It also provides the opportunity for parents to regulary monitor their child's progress.

And more technology...

The Gregory School enables students to take advantage of technology that increases their access to learning and effective communication.

While committed to improving fine motor, printing and cursive writing skills for all of our students, we recognize that some students have motor skill and processing limitations that greatly inhibit their composition abilities. Many of these students demonstrate a superb ability to communicate orally that does not translate when asked to communicate in written forms. Voice recognition software is a tool that can greatly benefit these students.

Non-verbal students are empowered to communicate via specialized (and individualized) keyboard systems.

Self-direction and independence in learning is encouraged through the use of "Teach Your Child Well" mathematics software, which are used in conjunction with the DI math curriculum in the classroom.

"TeachTown" online Discrete Trial delivery system motivates students who love to use the computer.

Music

Therapy

Since its opening, the Gregory School has placed a great importance on employing music as a tool to attain many of the students' personal goals. Our music therapist is involved with weekly consultation, evaluation and group leadership in sessions at the Gregory School. Music therapy goals and objective outlined by our therapist are carried out during the remainder of the week by the principal, who is also a musician. THe therapist also consults with the teachers regarding the use of music-based techniques that can be used throughout the day to enhance and encourage language interaction. Music therapy is an effective means of engaging students in goal-based tasks, and is beneficial for students with communication disorders as it can be used to target related issues such as motivation, production and intonation.

Reading Tricks

Angeline Sarabura, our principal, spent 5 years in reading research with psychologists at THe Hospital for Sick Children, the University of Toronto, and McMaster University. Her research and teaching work led her to write a remedial reading program, Reading Tricks, the third edition of which was published in 2001. Reading Tricks explicitly teaches word decoding strategies within the framework of a direct instruction teaching model. The William's Syndrome Association sponsored a two-year project to implement Reading Tricks with some of its families. The Reading Tricks program is a complete instructional package designed for use in tutoring situations. The Reading Tricks methodology has been successfully applied in the classroom setting here at the Gregory School and at other schools throughout southern Ontario.