Lower School Program
Building Strong Foundations for Learning
Variety’s Lower School Program is a non-graded multidisciplinary program that is designed for students with learning differences between the ages of 5 and 13, who struggle with academics, socialization, and communication. Prospective students for the Lower School program should be able to navigate the school day independently without one-on-one assistance (such as an RBT) for behavioral, communication or academic needs, allowing our team to focus on fostering group dynamics and individual growth within our small-group setting.
What We Offer
Through our individualized approach, we help students grow in the following areas:
Recognizing that all children learn differently, we prioritize a flexible learning timeline tailored to each student’s needs that allows students to master concepts thoroughly without feeling rushed. Through the implementation of adaptive academic plans and instructional strategies, we ensure that every learner receives the precise level of challenge and support needed to thrive. This progress is nurtured within a supportive environment where positive reinforcement strategies are used to build confidence, celebrate milestones, and inspire a genuine love for learning.
In Lower School, our core curriculum centers around Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. This ensures that our students focus on building solid, foundational skills in these crucial areas during their time with us, filling any major gaps they may have in their learning.
Individualized Academics
The Lower School program is dedicated to nurturing every student’s individual growth. We aim to bridge the gap between current achievement and future success, whether that leads to a mainstream setting or our Upper School program.
Experiential Learning
At Variety School, we know some of the best learning students can do is through hands-on, interactive experiences. While our academics focus heavily on individualized, direct instruction, we believe that integrating group learning can equip our students with essential skills to be well-rounded learners.
- Project-Based Learning: In our PBL class, students dive into tackling real-world challenges, working collaboratively to research, design, and produce meaningful projects. Through this hands-on approach, we aim to encourage critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in young, inquisitive learners.
- Social-Emotional Learning: We provide an adaptive curriculum in our SEL class that meets the ever-changing needs of our students. For our younger learners, understanding the world starts with understanding themselves, so we focus lessons on identifying and naming their feelings, sharing with others, and utilizing simple, effective strategies to calm their minds and bodies. For our more mature students, we focus on empathy, perspective-taking, reflection, effective communication, and conflict resolution through collaborative group discussions and role-playing activities.
- Adapted P.E.: Our Adapted PE class aims to introduce students to a variety of sports and athletic skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Rather than focusing on intense, competitive play, we break down the fundamental skills of various sports, such as throwing, catching, footwork, and coordination, at a pace that is accessible to everyone. This class is all about building physical confidence, understanding the basics of the game, and instilling a love for staying active.
- Technology: Students develop foundational digital literacy through interactive projects in our Technology class, which aims to build the confidence and technical know-how to navigate today’s digital learning environments. Lessons center around essential keyboarding skills, utilizing word processing and presentation applications, and online safety awareness. Students dive into basic coding and foundational concepts, like commands, loops, and sequence blocks. Using simple robotics and engaging Minecraft apps, they learn to independently guide character movements and complete interactive tasks equipping them with the skills they need for future academic success.
- Mixed Media: Our newest addition, Mixed Media, invites students to express themselves while building a foundation in the visual arts. Students journey through art fundamentals to more intermediate skills across various forms of art, such as painting, drawing, and sculpting. As our program grows, we look forward to expanding our canvas to include exciting new mediums! Through diverse projects, students develop their own unique artistic voice and discover the joy of bringing their creativity to life!
P.R.E.P. Class
Transitioning to a mainstream private school is a significant milestone, and our P.R.E.P. (Prepare, Reinforce, Elevate, Perform) class is designed to ensure your child meets it with confidence.
This adaptive program bridges the gap between our Lower School and future academic environments by equipping students with the essential academic and social tools they need to thrive. By focusing on executive functioning and independence, we help students transform their potential into performance as they enter middle or high school.
To ensure the best outcomes for every learner, participation in the P.R.E.P. program is determined by Lower School Supervisor approval, based on a thoughtful assessment of each student’s individual readiness for the transition.