tRANSITIONAL SUPPORT CLASSROOM

 TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT CLASSROOM

At New Heights Academy, our Transitional Support Classroom is designed for students who are working towards greater independence in both academic and behavioral skills. The focus of this classroom is to support students as they transition from more structured environments to the Secondary Support, Academic, or Advanced Classrooms. Through a combination of level academics and targeted behavior support, students develop key skills in the following areas:

• Reading & Writing: Strengthening reading comprehension, expanding vocabulary, and writing complete sentences and paragraphs with proper grammar and punctuation.
• Math: Mastering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, understanding fractions, and applying problem-solving strategies to solve word problems.
• Science: Exploring topics such as ecosystems, the water cycle, and basic physics concepts, using hands-on experiments and interactive activities.
• Social Studies: Learning about communities, geography, historical events, and the role of government in society.
• Social & Emotional Skills: Focusing on emotional regulation, peer interaction, communication, and developing conflict-resolution strategies.
• Behavior Modification & Classroom Readiness: Addressing behaviors that need to be managed or modified in order to prepare for successful integration into the next level of instruction, including practicing self-regulation, following classroom routines, and utilizing positive reinforcement techniques.
• Daily Life & Independence: Strengthening skills like following multi-step directions, completing tasks independently, and fostering responsibility for personal belongings and classroom materials.

By utilizing Unique Learning System (ULS) and other academic tools, alongside targeted behavioral interventions, we provide a nurturing environment to support each student's growth, ensuring they are ready to transition to the Secondary Support, Academic, or Advanced Classrooms.

School Hours:  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

The importance of social-emotional learning is deeply rooted in our mission and core values at New Heights Academy. In every classroom, the foundation for learning is a warm, inclusive community, and strong, caring relationships between children and teachers. Every child with autism, just like every child, has an emotional life and experiences a widening range of emotions as they develop. Social learning occurs throughout various settings in a child’s school day. This is where children develop their sense of autonomy and their independent voice, even as they develop the values, rules and responsibilities of citizenship in a community. Students will actively engage their bodies and minds – they negotiate roles, flex their imaginations, experience conflict and peacemaking, cooperate for a common goal, work as a team, share materials, forge friendships, assert their feelings and rebound from disappointments. 

At NHA, we use the latest technology to advance the school’s mission, providing our faculty with the technological tools they need to enhance their teaching while making it easier for our students to learn. The educational technology curriculum encourages our students to meet challenges with logic and creativity using a variety of technologies. Teachers work with Smart Boards to incorporate technology in their classrooms at the appropriate instructional level for each student.  We also have a computer lab  that every child has access to for stimulating and relevant lessons.  Teachers and students use iPads/Laptops and AAC devices during academic instruction, creating a unique learning experience for each student. We believe that technology is a vital tool in the educational process. NHA is equipped with technology which helps bridge learning difficulties, boosts creativity, and makes learning exciting! 

NHA Visual Arts Program develops self-confidence, brings out creativity, and promotes higher-level thinking in all of our students.  

The goal of Music Education at NHA is to learn music through experiencing music. Students learn critical musical concepts while singing, dancing, and playing. The program is designed to be stimulating, challenging, engaging and rewarding. 

Regular, Healthful Physical Activity: Provides a wide-range of developmentally appropriate activities for all children. At NHA we keep moving with our indoor sensory room, Physical Education and Yoga classes during school hours.