Instructional Strategies

Customizing Teaching To Meet Individual Needs

Linwood School employs a variety of proven techniques, all individualized to meet each student’s needs. Our strategies include individualized and group instruction, language stimulation activities, incidental teaching, sensory integration, visually aided instruction, and the use of technology. All strategies used are consistent with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a discipline devoted to understanding behavior and the variables to which it is related. One of the goals of ABA is to bring about improvements in behavior and the quality of life that are significant to the individuals involved.

The cornerstone of the teaching process at Linwood is identifying each student’s strengths and interests. Our school staff develops and follows Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for each student, ensuring a customized approach for each program participant. To motivate attention and to reward performance, our staff identifies each student’s interests and responses and uses them to generate widespread positive behavior changes while reducing unwanted behaviors.

We believe that learning opportunities also take place outside the classroom, and we take full advantage of community resources to develop skills, reward achievement, and motivate students to learn. While most of our teaching, training, and therapy occurs within the school and classrooms, Linwood also coordinates field trips throughout the year. These excursions allow students to learn new things in an integrated community setting, helping to prepare them for their transition into adulthood and independence. Field trips include visits to local farms, zoos, shopping centers, community pools, theaters, and more.