Overview

Pinnacle School’s program is based on current best practices in education, including proven approaches for teaching students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and related processing differences. Students participate in a motivating curriculum with excellent teachers, developing both the tools to learn and confidence in their own abilities. Class sizes are limited to twelve students.
 

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Strong Academics: Students participate in a full academic program. The morning focuses on language and math.  The afternoon schedule rotates daily, and includes inquiry-based science, history, social studies, literature, music, art, and technology.  Students are placed in classes based on several factors, including their academic progress and experience with particular topics. 

Strengthening Language Abilities: Students spend every morning developing skills for reading, writing, spelling, language decoding, and comprehension. Our staff has expertise in a variety of approaches for teaching children with processing differences.  Students learn with Orton-Gillingham, the structured, multi-sensory approach endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association.  We also utilize a Kurzweil software protocol. 

Building Math Skills: Our curriculum is based on recommendations from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  Students learn and practice math facts, operations, and problem solving strategies.  The enhancement of our math curriculum has resulted in stronger student learning and retention. 

Enriched Creative Curriculum: Every student participates in a weekly schedule of art, drama, music, cooking, physical education, and electives taught by faculty with expertise in these fields.  This year, students will have the opportunity to take classes in graphic arts, video production and editing, and materials design/engineering.  While any student would benefit from such programs, research has indicated particularly strong advantages for students with auditory, kinesthetic, and processing learning differences.  Spanish is a new addition for 2007-2008.

Use of Technology: Computers are a critical tool for both visual and auditory learners.  Pinnacle School resources include two fully-equipped technology labs as well as workstations in each classroom.  Students are encouraged to utilize the labs as a tool for work in their courses.  Early on, students are taught to use presentation software, like PowerPoint, and to begin developing good oral communication skills.  All students learn to use the Internet for research and word processing applications for reports and creative writing.  Other interactive technologies are incorporated with other areas of the curriculum, including science, engineering, music, social studies, drama, and our new graphic arts program.

Community Partnerships: Students engage in enriched learning experiences through our community partnerships.  Partners include the John Waldron Arts Center, the WonderLab Museum of Science Health and Technology, and the Herald-Times (Newspapers in Education).  Some of these classes will be taught at school; others will take place in the community.  We are pleased to announce our recent partnerships with Sycamore Land Trust (Lake Lemon Stewardship Project), Hoosier Heights (team building and climbing), and the Bloomington SportsPlex (fitness program)!

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Leadership Skills

Along with the intensive language program and other academics, an equally important part of the curriculum is the development of leadership skills.  Students build their "civic skills" through participation with active governing committees and philanthropy projects.  Students cultivate interpersonal skills, team building, compassion, self-discipline, and confidence while engaging in real decision-making for the school community.

Pinnacle Dollars: Students are encouraged to think of school as their workplace.  They are “paid” in Pinnacle Dollars for attending school and doing their job successfully.  Payday is every two weeks.  Students track their own income.  The office manager also keeps a record of each student’s account.  Students have the opportunity to earn bonuses.  They may also have fines assessed for breaking the pledge. 

The goals of the Pinnacle Dollars program are to teach responsible handling of money, the economic concepts of saving, investing and philanthropy, and to serve as a motivational tool.

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Additional Programs

Additional optional programs that available for interested families and students include our After-School Language Tutoring, Homework Help, and Summer Academy.  Visit our Additional Programs page.

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