Porter Academy
Primary
The primary classrooms provides an emotionally supportive environment for each child’s learning needs. The low student-teacher ratio facilitates the instruction process and accommodates individual modifications necessary to extend learning to “full capacity” for each student.
Primary Phonics, Explode the Code, Starting Comprehension materials as well as Orton-Gillingham methodology are utilized to further develop the reading foundation of our emerging readers. Multi-sensory lessons teach to all learning styles - auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic - in a developmentally sequential, structured fashion. The primary curriculum develops perceptual, cognitive and organizational skills in our students and minimizes their sense of failure. Saxon and Harcourt Brace Curriculums as well as Math their Way manipulatives and methodology provide the foundation for our math program. The students engage in hands-on, small group activities and games to introduce and reinforce skills.
The morning homeroom presents a unique opportunity to develop social skills through role play and daily kinesthetic activities. Children prepare for their learning day emotionally, mentally and physically. Cross-curricular activities are used as “brain” warm-ups. This critical 30 minutes engages the child’s readiness to learn. This attitude then travels with them throughout their learning day.
The class meeting time is also used to help the group generate non-aggressive alternatives to hypothetical or real problems that occur within the social context of the class. Non-judgmental correction procedures are used at the Porter Academy. Correction procedures enhance the child’s problem solving abilities and leave the child’s dignity intact.