Hawthorne Star Class

Published 8:00 pm Friday, January 15, 2021

: The Success Room is new to Hawthorne Elementary this year, and administrators said Tiffany Buchanan and her staff have done an amazing job of supporting their students to be extremely successful in their new home environment. The Success Room is for students who demonstrate a need for services in the Level 3 “Success Room,” as it is specially designed for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Within the room, students are provided with a work area that they understand (clear boundaries, schedules and a space to work at). Room arrangements have clear definitions of boundaries. The components of a structured teaching and systematic method of teaching are used and help students understand where and how they are to do activities. Students use repeated practice in varied, but familiar formats to increase student understanding of concepts. Sensory breaks also help students regulate their sensory system so they can learn. The program uses the STAR curriculum to teach academic, functional, social, language and behavioral skills through evidence-based strategies to help students grow from wherever they are at. The data the Albert Lea school district has collected over the last three years show that the curriculum helps all students make great growth each year. The curriculum is individually based, and students work in lessons in each curriculum area based on assessments. Students learn through play, individual sessions with teachers and staff, small group sessions and routines throughout their day. Provided

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The Success Room is new to Hawthorne Elementary this year, and administrators said Tiffany Buchanan and her staff have done an amazing job of supporting their students to be extremely successful in their new home environment.