Program Details

The Little Corner Academy program structure is based on the TEACCH and Floortime methods. It is a highly structured program with a focus on the physical structure of the child’s environment and play. This means that there are set boundaries in the classroom and they are clearly defined by specific categories (e.g., unpacking, opening, play).

The program follows a structured schedule. Each child is provided an individual schedule to help transition throughout their day using a picture paired with the child’s name and every activity matches the location. There are clear and well established routines. Each day the children will arrive, unpack, check their schedule, and transition to that assigned activity. This routine and structure helps with consistency and independence.  LCA’s program is based on Pivotal Response Training (PRT), and DIR -Floortime, which is play-based, child initiated instruction.  The focus is on comprehensive “pivotal” areas such as increasing a child’s motivation to learn, initiating communication, and monitoring their own behaviors. This focus on motivation is crucial because a child who is motivated to monitor their behavior will experience more success. PRT encourages children to improve in the three broad pivotal areas; social interaction initiation, communication, and self-management. We will interact closely with each child, especially child-initiated activities during which they are highly motivated, on academic instruction through counting, colors, numbers, and letters. In addition, modeling and prompts will be used to encourage and ‘teach’ the children skills such as requesting, turn-taking, positive peer interaction, and focus on reciprocal and parallel play. All of these methods of instruction are vital to the structured learning process.

Little Corner Academy's curriculum includes structured activities to promote social interactions, play, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skills, and sensory-motor development in children with or without special needs. The daily schedule will be preschool-based where the children will build a strong foundation for kindergarten as they experience art, music, playroom activities, imitation skills, social skills, and daily living skills led by a highly trained and experienced special educator with the integrated support of LTC's team of licensed SLPs, OTs, and Psychologists. We will have a set schedule where Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists will come in during the daily sessions for additional specialized support. If additional support is needed, children can extend their day to receive individual speech-language therapy, psychological/behavioral support, and/or occupational therapy.