We work closely with a student’s speech pathologist to ensure a student’s personal AAC device is utilised throughout the school day.
Comprehensive Literacy
At Castlereagh School we support every student to read and write. We use the Comprehensive Literacy Four Blocks approach as the basis for students’ literacy learning.
The Four Blocks approach consists of structured Literacy sessions: Guided Reading, Self-Selected Reading, Working with Words, and Writing.
Students use customised alternative pencils to functionally participate in writing. Alternate pencils vary for each student and may be a computer, communication device, iPad, flip alphabet chart or an eye gaze frame.
Our school topic-based library provides a rich learning environment full of a variety of different books to meet every reader’s interest and need. Reading is an essential, transferable life-skill and it is important that every student at Castlereagh School is provided with the opportunity to learn and enjoy reading at a level that is suitable, achievable and enriching for them. For our secondary aged students, our extensive range of picture books for older readers has developed many avid readers who love to share their reading with another.
Developing Literacy resources include word walls, book bags, single word readers, eBooks, and reading programs for learning at home and online.
Sensory Stories
Sensory Stories partner concise text with strong sensory stimuli to convey a narrative. Students are provided time to listen and process the story, whilst being given the opportunity to explore related objects to aid their understanding, problem solving and promote communication. The stories are motivating and engaging and have individual learning intentions integrated within the story. The stories are repetitive allowing students the opportunity to predict, expect or associate stimulus or activity with an event. All stories are personalised with known motivators to ensure the highest level of engagement.