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Special Education Curriculum

In collaboration with Curriculum Services, parents, teaching staff, and community members, the curriculum is developed, implemented, and revised for students with disabilities in the Special Services department. Committees assure the alignment with state and local standards. In addition to developing a curriculum for students with disabilities working on State Content Standards, the Special Services department develops a curriculum to teach the South Dakota Core Content Connectors for those individuals needing an alternate curriculum. According to Marzano (2003), a guaranteed and viable curriculum is the factor that has the most impact on student achievement.

Each major curriculum strand is included in a seven-year review cycle. The written curriculum, unless it is implemented correctly, will not guarantee student success. The Special Services Department provides professional development to assist all staff in becoming more effective in working with students who have learning difficulties.

Classes are designed to meet the individualized programming needs determined by a placement committee and recorded in the IEP. Special Education Resource, Fundamentals, and/or Life Skills classes may not satisfy college or university entrance requirements.

English

Resource Reading

This course is designed to improve the skills of students who are reading below grade level. The use of individualized, self–paced programs, small-group activities, and oral reading are emphasized. A counselor or teacher should recommend students. Students will develop a more extensive vocabulary; develop skills relating to the English language, including phonemic awareness; increased reading comprehension; recognition of main points of literature; develop skills that lead to lifelong reading.

Resource English 1

This course is designed for striving readers and writers to develop skills in writing/language, reading literature and informative texts, speaking, and listening. Students will learn a variety of reading strategies, broaden spoken and written vocabulary; apply literary techniques and composition skills; reinforce basic mechanics, usage, and grammar; practice paragraph development and apply to essay writing; develop critical thinking skills, and integrate technology into learning. A counselor or teacher should recommend students to this course.

Resource English 2

The purpose of English II is to engage striving readers and writers in authentic reading and writing tasks, target specific writing skills, develop a variety of reading strategies, and expose students to a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will read and write for a variety of purposes that will focus on argumentative, expository, narrative, and persuasive modes. A counselor or teacher should recommend students for this course.

Resource English 3 & American Literature

English III combines classic literature by American authors with focused writing assignments. Striving readers and writers will read various pieces of literature; become familiar with author backgrounds, writings, and themes; develop communication skills; find personal meaning by responding to the literature, and recognize the relationship between American history and literature. Writing assignments include descriptive, narrative, persuasive, and expository paragraphs, essays, articles, critiques, and more; incorporate research techniques and skills into a formal paper or project; write for a specific audience; broaden vocabulary and increase critical thinking skills; and revise and proofread work for style, grammar, and mechanical errors. A principal or teacher should recommend students for this course. (note: 0.5 American Literature is required for graduation.)

Math

Essentials of Mathematics

Essentials of Mathematics is a year-long course that focuses on expressions and equations. Students will write and evaluate algebraic expressions using the set of whole numbers, and write and solve one-step inequalities, with one variable.

Resource Pre-Algebra

Resource Pre-Algebra is a year-long course that focuses on linear relationships and algebraic functions. Students will write and evaluate algebraic expressions using the set of whole numbers, decimals, or fractions. Students will write and solve multi-step inequalities with one or more variables. Students will graph ordered pairs and graph equations.

Resource Consumer Math

This course promotes the development of math skills for independent living including the following topics: budgeting, work-related skills, gross and net pay, housing, transportation, insurance, discount pricing, banking, credit cards, loans, interest, and comparing unit prices when buying groceries. Students will also practice reading information from a chart, graph, or form.

Social Studies

Resource World History

Students will identify the cultural contributions of various eras and areas of the world and demonstrate an understanding of how the past has impacted the present.

Resource Modern US History

Students will explain the development of the west and the industrial revolution from the pre-civil war, describe American involvement in wars around the world, and identify changes and challenges after WWII to the current day.

Resource Geography

Students will increase and demonstrate their awareness of topics related to World Geography. Nations will be studied in terms of cultures, topographies, industrialization, resources, and weather.

Resource Economics

Students will identify how the free market system works, as well as define other systems used around the world. Students will be able to describe terms related to economics, and how they are applied and impact their daily living.

Resource Sociology

Students will discover the meaning behind human behavior using a variety of case studies, group projects, and opportunities for in-depth study.

Resource Government

Students will identify forms of government. They will identify the process that immigrants use to become a citizen and name the three branches of government and their roles.

Resource Selectives

Employability 1

Students will understand relationships between skills, abilities, interests, values, and work environment preferences; explore post-secondary options and career interests; recognize the different levels of education and/or training required for employment options; recognize the relationship between appearance and successful employment; identify positive ways to solve workplace problems; learn how to communicate workplace accommodations if necessary; understand the relationship between attendance and job keeping; demonstrate the ability to cooperate with other workers.

Employability 2

Students will apply problem-solving skills to job situations with co-workers and supervisors; learn safe and appropriate use of technology and how it relates to obtaining and maintaining a job; complete a resume, complete a basic job application; complete a mock job interview; identify the different components of a paycheck stub/direct deposit; understand and complete work-related forms (W-4, tax forms, W-2).

Employability 3

This course involves actual job experience at the job site. A ten-hour minimum work week outside school hours is required. Meet employer requirements for entry-level employees; work effectively at the job site; complete assigned tasks to employer satisfaction; gain work experience, and develop employment skills. Students must provide verification of hours worked, meet weekly with the instructor, and maintain employment throughout the semester.

Transition to Success

This course helps students develop a portfolio to obtain and maintain the information needed to make a successful transition after high school. Students will work on skills including effective communication, advocacy, personal care, daily living skills, budgeting, transportation, goal setting, and adult services.

Resource Electives

Positive Student Interaction

This course focuses on communication skills, problem-solving skills, and positive/appropriate interactions with others. It is designed for students who need to improve “interactions” between themselves and others. (2 semesters) As well as becoming productive citizens. This course will focus on substance abuse prevention.

Developing Academic Proficiency

Students work towards building: effective time management by utilizing a variety of strategies including using student planners; self-monitoring skills by checking grades using Infinite Campus and weekly conferences with classroom staff; study habits and strategies; appropriate classroom behavior by developing and practicing effective strategies; problem-solving skills; and, effective communication to teachers.

Resource Social Awareness

Students work to improve age-appropriate social skills; demonstrate age-appropriate responses to social issues; increase awareness of rights/responsibilities and understand the need for trust, compassion, respect, self-discipline, and honesty; respect individual differences; and, increase awareness of peer pressure and addictions.

Study Strategies 1

Students will learn important study strategies designed to meet their individual needs to become more successful. Along with basic educational responsibilities individual strategies may include time management, organization, test-taking, information recall, problem-solving, self-advocacy, functional communication, use of technology, and focused transition skills.

Study Strategies 2

Students will learn important study strategies designed to meet their individual needs to become more successful. Along with basic educational responsibilities individual strategies may include time management, organization, test-taking, information recall, problem-solving, self-advocacy, functional communication, use of technology, and focused transition skills.

Life Skills Classes

Life Skills Language Arts 1, 2, 3, & 4

These English Language Arts courses are designed for striving readers in grades 9-12. These courses utilize rich content that promotes contextual discussions and exposes students to authentic literature and to a variety of cultures through various materials. Students' language arts work to develop and improve skills in written language, reading, speaking, and listening. Students will learn a variety of reading strategies; practice spoken and written academic and content vocabulary; be instructed in and practice how to develop their writing skills; develop basic writing mechanics; and, build critical thinking skills.

Life Skills Math 1, 2, 3, & 4

Life Skills Math derives content from the Core Content Connectors with alignment to state math standards. This alignment allows students to use a modified curriculum to access grade-level standards while providing connections to functional skills. These connections support the transition to adulthood skills while promoting key mathematical understandings. Students in Life Skills Math are encouraged and supported in a continuous effort to foster higher levels of mathematical reasoning.

Life Skills Social Studies 1, 2, 3, & 4

Life Skills Social Studies I-IV curriculum covers modified material from the general education curriculum and standards (ELA, Speaking, Viewing, and Listening). Students will explore US History, World History, Government, Economics, & Geography and apply real-world knowledge and functional skills through classroom and community instruction.

Life Skills Science & Health 1, 2, 3, & 4

Practical Science and Health emphasize understanding of the nature of science, science technology, environment, social science, physical science, life science, and earth/space science as designated by the South Dakota Alternative Academic content and Achievement Standards.

Life Skills Electives

Fundamentals of Movement & Fitness

This course is designed to encourage lifelong fitness activities and may include part or all of the following: the development of gross motor skills, positive social skills and sportsmanship, stamina and cardiovascular endurance, and balance and coordination. Students engage in activities that promote interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and relationship building while engaging in fitness and movement activities.

Recreation/Leisure Skills

Students participating in Recreation/Leisure skills class learn to interact cooperatively with peers; learn and explore free time with age-appropriate activities; and learn socially appropriate behavior while engaging in recreational activities.

Fundamentals of Social Skills 2

Social Skills II is designed to assist students in learning and applying appropriate social skills in different situations. The course will focus on manners and etiquette, problem-solving and conflict resolution, self-determination, and cyber safety.

Fundamentals of Home Maintenance

This class is designed to teach students the basics of home maintenance. Students will problem solve everyday household needs and identify ways to handle different emergency situations.

Life Skills Selectives

Vocational Skills 1

Students are provided with a variety of hands-on work tasks to learn and reinforce various work skills in an unpaid, classroom setting. Students need to demonstrate the ability to follow a one-step direction, exhibit appropriate personal and social interaction and personal hygiene, maintain 15 minutes on-task behavior, and produce quality work. Students will explore various career options and be introduced to bus training.

Vocational Skills 2

Students are provided with a variety of unpaid work tasks to reinforce various work skills. Students need to demonstrate the ability to follow 1-2 step directions, exhibit appropriate behavior and personal hygiene, maintain 30 minutes of time on task, and produce quality work. Students will explore career interests, abilities and needs, and bus training.

Vocational Skills 3

This course provides students with the opportunity to master skills in the school or community in an unpaid worksite situation. Students need to demonstrate the ability to follow 2-3 step verbal or written directions, exhibit appropriate behavior and personal hygiene, maintain excellent attendance and maintain 45 minutes of on-task behavior while producing quality work. Students will explore career interests, abilities and needs, and bus training.

Vocational Skills 4

Students will continue vocational skills exploration and training within a paid or unpaid community work setting. Students will receive job coaching support. Support and placement are determined by each individual student’s needs, abilities, and interests. Students must be able to demonstrate the ability to follow rules and guidelines established by individual employers. Students will explore career interests, abilities and needs, and bus training.

Educational Sessions For Parents

The Special Services Department welcomes communication regarding special education and related topics with all stakeholder groups, especially parents. Through an annual parent survey process, parents have communicated wanting more information about topics and organizations supporting youth with disabilities. As a result, a planning group of parents, partner agencies, and District leadership staff designed three educational sessions available for all parents/guardians of youth with disabilities.

State Performance Plan

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires states to have in place a State Performance Plan (SPP) that evaluates the State's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA and describes how the State will improve student performance/achievement. The State reports to the public these results annually. The South Dakota Department of Education provides information to each South Dakota school district about their performance on the 16 indicators.

View the Sioux Falls School District State Performance Plan

Patti Ward-Maguire

Dr. Patti Ward-Maguire

Coordinator Secondary Special Education

✆ (605) 367-7938
✉ Email Patti Ward-Maguire
➢ IPC - Special Education