Special Education, Remediation, ESL & Special Needs

Special Education is offered at our Wallenberg Campus. Courses may also be offered at our Kimel Centre if there is sufficient demand; if not, all Special Ed students may be offered places at Wallenberg Campus.

Special Education Programme

Typical Eligibility Criteria:

• Prior education in the Jewish Day School System
• A Psycho-Educational Assessment indicating the need for special services/accommodations

General & Jewish Studies

Integration into the regular stream is a vital component of the Special Education Programme. Our system allows for, and indeed fosters, full or partial integration throughout the year.

For Grade 9 and 10 students whose learning profiles warrant more intense Instructional Accommodations, we offer Self-Contained learning environments with a maximum class size of 10 students. In both grades, special classes are offered in English, Math, Geography and Science as well as in all four Jewish Studies' courses.

Also available, in Grade 11 & 12, are several Special Education courses in Jewish Studies such as Rabbinics and in Jewish History. In all other courses, a Special Education student is integrated into the mainstream classes.

All Special Education courses grant Applied Credits for their successful completion in both Jewish and General Studies. Ongoing review of each student's progress and the appropriateness of his/her placement and supports is carried out throughout and at the end of each academic year.

Overall our Special Education students have experienced much success at TanenbaumCHAT and indeed some have moved on to higher education, including university.

Remediation Programme

Typical Eligibility Criteria:

• Elementary education within the Jewish Day School System
• A Psycho-Educational Assessment indicating the need for special services/Accommodations

The Remediation Programme is student oriented. We make a clear distinction between a Remediation Teacher and a Tutor. Whereas a Tutor's goal is to help a student master a specific subject area, the Remediation teacher addresses all the needs of the student including; organizational and time management concerns, social and emotional needs, etc.

Some Typical Instructional Goals of a Remediation Specialist:

• Create an Educational Plan based on the learning profile of the student
• Help organize materials & manage time
• Help research and edit assignments
• Remediate reading and writing skills
• Help prepare for tests
• Talk over concerns and accomplishments
• Intercede with teachers, parents and counsellors

Typical Accommodations Made on Behalf of Students are:

• Extra time for tests & exams
• Computer use in class and/or for Exams
• Preferential seating
• Note-taking buddies
• Separate environment for tests and Exams
• Oral testing (on rare occasions in addition to writing)

As noted, the Remediation Programme serves a number of essential functions on behalf of students who have exceptional learning needs. Based on their learning profile, which is typically determined by a Psycho-Educational Assessment, students are helped in a variety of ways.

Shared Long Term Goals of both Special Education and Remediation Programmes

As Advocates, we understand the need for our students to become progressively more independent as learners. Important long-term goals of the Special Education and Remediation Programmes are to help foster in our students a better understanding of their own learning profile and to help them develop strong self-advocacy skills.

The Guidance Department plays an integral part in our long range planning, helping to prepare each of our students for entry into various institutes of higher learning.