Black Bear®Academy

Academic Program Information

Our Academic program begins to introduce the strong communicative-cognitive skills developed in our LE program with a project based academic structure. This program is intended to facilitate learning in core knowledge areas such as Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, etc. Additionally, the academic component of our program allows us to transition those students from our therapeutic program into a neuro-typical classroom as soon as they demonstrate the readiness.  These classes have a maximum of twelve students to two teachers and last 2 hours and 45 minutes from 9:00 - 11:45. Beginning in the Academic Program, students have the option to stay for Extended Day classes from 12:00 - 3:00. Parent/Teacher conferences happen three times a year in November, February, and June. Reports are sent home after the initial Academic Testing in the beginning of the year.  The November conference reports on the goals and strengths of your student.  The February conference gives a full report card with a skills checklist, curriculum overview, and student narrative.  The conference in June will give us a chance to report on the pre and post Academic Tests and the students' Academic progress throughout the year.


• Introduction to Kindergarten Ideas (IKI) starts at 3.6:
IKI entrance is based on academic testing and social maturity for a more structured project based classroom.  Curriculums include Pre-literacy, pre-writing, Literacy based mathematics, and thematic Science and Social Study approach.

• Junior Kindergarten (JK) begins at 4 years by September 1:
JK program requires Academic Testing to insure readiness for formal academic curriculums.  Curriculums include Pre-literacy, pre-writing, science and math. Daily computer tasks are required as part of this program.

• Senior Kindergarten (SK) begins at 5 years by September 1:
SK program also requires pre/post-testing to insure all of our students are taught specifically to the level of their strengths and beyond in addition to the areas of greater challenge. The curriculum approach is more traditional and an increased time on task becomes an academic focus. Continued focus in the core knowledge areas in addition to an increased facilitation of social skills and pragmatic approaches to problem solving for these kindergartners. Literacy, writing, science and math are the primary areas of academic challenges presented and an increased exposure to computer based tasks are required as part of this program. Extended Day classes are strongly encouraged but not required.

• Extended Day for students 3.5 - 6 years of age:
(ED) Should you choose to, additional course work is available in the afternoon ED Program. This allows for parents to choose a half-day or full day program. ED course work includes Spanish, Academic Rotation (7-8 weeks focusing on Math, Science,Handwriting and Reading), Physical Education, and Fine Arts.  Students stay for lunch at 12:00 and have two classes following at 1:00 and 2:00.  This program has a full year and half year committment beginning in September and ending in May following a separate Extended Day school calendar.

Afternoon Elective Classes for students 2.5 -6 years of age:
AE classes are offered outside of the Extended Program for students that are not ready for a full day of school but would like to participate in afternoon classes.  Currently we are offering Theatre on Mondays at 1:00 and Cooking on Wednesdays at 1:00. Students that are in class in the morning have the option of staying for 12:00 lunch.  Sign up for AE happens the 5th week of the current session and runs every 10 weeks following the LE 40 week school calendar.

• Academic Tutoring:
By appt only and for students requiring additional support for academic success in a variety of areas. Our tutoring program provides tutoring for students through eighth grade. Students receiving speech therapy may also receive tutoring services through Black Bear if determined to have therapeutic value and recommended by treating SLP only.