Life Skills @ Lawndale
The Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) provides a continuum of supports to students with disabilities who reside within the boundaries of LESD. We partner with various other local districts. LESD is a member of the Southwest Special Education Local Plan Area (SWSELPA). Students may receive any combination of services, based upon their unique needs as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), including: Speech and Language, Learning Center, Special Day Classes, Adaptive Physical Education, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Counseling Support, Behavioral Support, and other services.
The Life Skills program provides a full range of services designed to meet the needs of students with moderate and severe disabilities. The program is committed to providing quality learning experiences based on the California State Standards for all students. Our mission is to optimize our students’ skills to the best of their abilities in all areas of functioning. We seek to maximize individual self-regulation and independence in the school, social, work and family communities.
Curriculum & Content
The Special Education curriculum is based on the core areas identified in the California State Standards and key components outlined in the Common Core Essential Elements. By Design, the Common Core Essential Elements focus on student learning to create comparable expectations for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
The Essential Elements use performance terms to describe what students should know and be able to do and provide learning targets for students with significant cognitive challenges.
The Common Core Essential Elements are specific statements of knowledge and skills linked to the grade-level expectations identified in the Common Core State Standards. The purpose of the Essential Elements is to build a bridge from the content in the Common Core State Standards to academic expectations for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities” (Dynamic Learning Maps Consortium, 2013).
The instructional focus of the program includes the integration and connection between core academic content areas and the life skills domains:
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Adaptive/Daily Living
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Recreation/Leisure
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Community
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Vocational
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Social Emotional
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Functional Academics
N2Y Learning System
The consortium program utilizes N2Y Learning Systems as the classroom curriculum. The curriculum program has been designed specifically for children with special learning needs. While the foundation of Unique is the academic content standards (reading, writing, math, science and social studies), the lessons are modified to make sure that all children have a way to participate and learn.
There is a strong emphasis on life skills that are embedded in each lesson. Many of the materials within Unique are designed in three differentiated levels so children of various abilities can actively participate. Unique Learning System has several tools that will help the classroom teacher monitor your child’s progress within classroom learning. The primary goal of Unique is to give each child a way to participate, learn and succeed in the classroom.
Program Features
- Each classroom is equipped with interactive projectors and a set of ipads and headphones to promote digital literacy and 21st century learning.
- Programs practice inclusive practices and integrate students into school activities and programs.
- Each class includes a higher level of staff support
- All teachers within the program participate in monthly specially designed professional development to refine pedagogy and integrate evidenced based practices within their classroom learning environments
- Instructional assistants are provided with various training opportunities to be able to support all students within the program including SWSELPA hosted trainings, LESD planned trainings, and online modules.
- Life Skills Programs can be found at Anderson Elementary, and Will Rogers Middle School
