The Explorer class works to build classroom independence and expand upon skills using the Science of Reading in the area of reading phonics in order to increase reading fluency.
The Explorer class receives up to 4.5 hours of group instruction daily, while the remainder of their day, students work in small groups and/or in one-to-one instruction.
Child/Staff Ratio
- Class taught by a bachelor or master’s level special educator
- Bachelor’s level teaching assistant
- Up to 7 students in a class
- One-on-one adult support for all students
Programs/Curriculums That May Be Utilized
- Maryland Common Core Standards
- Equals Math Curriculum
- SIPPS
- Principles of Orton Gillingham
- STAR Curriculum
- Visualizing and Verbalizing
The following are examples of things our students may work on within each subject area:
| ELA | Students build skills in phonics, fluency, and comprehension by engaging with a variety of texts. Key learning includes reading different genres, asking and answering questions to deepen understanding, and identifying story structures such as beginning, middle, and end. |
| Math | Students actively develop numeracy and mathematical reasoning through hands-on exploration and problem-solving. Skills include skip counting, measuring with standard units, and using tools like number lines and manipulatives to solve equations and represent thinking. |
| Science | Students investigate the natural world by observing patterns and processes. Topics include life cycles and adaptations in plants and animals, the effects of sunlight on Earth’s surface, and identifying landforms and bodies of water through exploration and inquiry. |
| Social Studies | Students explore how people live, work, and interact within communities. Learning includes understanding the importance of rules at home, school, and in society; recognizing cultural and group differences; and exploring how individuals choose jobs and careers. |
| Health | Students will explore and practice differentiated skills across key areas including personal safety, healthy relationships, hygiene and physical well-being, self and social awareness, and understanding their bodies. |
| PE | Students participate in differentiated physical activities that promote motor skill development, collaboration, and physical fitness. Through games, sports, and movement routines, they grow confidence and joy in active play. |
| Art | Students explore and create original artwork by using key elements of art such as line, color, shape, and texture using differentiated instruction. Building on these foundations, they begin to investigate principles of design like balance, movement, and space. Students experiment with a variety of materials and techniques—including weaving with yarn and shading with colored pencils—to express their ideas and develop creative confidence. |