Curriculum

Orton-Gillingham Reading Intervention

We use Orton-Gillingham, which is a direct, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach reading, writing and spelling. All students receive daily OG services in a small group setting. Orton-Gillingham includes direct, explicit instruction in phonics, spelling, vocabulary, language structure, grammar, writing conventions, and handwriting.

Language Arts

Lower School: Being a Reader

A comprehensive K–5 reading program, Being a Reader is the first of its kind to integrate foundational skills instruction, practice in reading comprehension strategies, and rich literacy experiences with explicit social skills instruction and activities that foster students' growth as responsible, caring, and collaborative people.

Rooted in the science of reading, the instruction in Being a Reader ensures that students acquire effortless and fluent word recognition while at the same time developing skills that support comprehension of complex text. Being a Reader builds knowledge by linking whole-class instruction to purposeful independent reading.

At each grade level, selected units focus on science or social studies topics, encouraging students to explore meaningful content while applying comprehension strategies. This research-based, standards-aligned curriculum utilizes high-quality, authentic fiction and nonfiction.

Middle School: Novel Studies

Using Novel Studies in Middle School Language Arts offers dyslexic learners a powerful, engaging way to build literacy skills. Longer, connected texts provide meaningful context, helping students strengthen comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking in a way excerpts and isolated passages cannot.

Paired with structured support, discussion, and meaningful response to text, Novel Studies allow students to experience reading as a rich, immersive journey—boosting confidence, stamina, and a genuine love of literature.

All Grades - Writing: Hochman Method

Park School utilizes the Hochman Writing Revolution Method. The methodology rests on explicit, carefully sequenced instruction, building from sentences to compositions. The Hochman Method is not a separate writing curriculum but rather an approach designed to be adapted to and embedded in the content being taught in any subject area and at any grade level.

Mathematics

All Grades: Multisensory Math, Math-U-See 

Multisensory Math is a different way of thinking about teaching math. It uses manipulative objects to teach the concepts of math, known as the Concrete-Representational-Abstract sequence. The CRA Instruction Sequence is also a bridge which can be used for repetition and practice with components juxtaposed or in concert for problem solving. This entire program uses the goal of quantity and pattern recognition to aid students in using math. The other unique aspect of this program is that it uses strategies from historic multisensory teaching, especially for language instruction. The approach is especially appropriate for students who have language-based learning differences/dyslexia.

Math-U-See is a standards-aligned curriculum designed for students with learning differences. It helps students learn math concepts and succeed at their own pace. This unique math curriculum integrates a distinctive set of manipulatives with strategies presented through a mix of direct instruction, textbooks, and digital resources. The curriculum consists of 13 levels, building from an introduction to mathematics through calculus. Each level uses interactive strategies to increase student engagement and allow for continuous review of concepts.

Science

All Grades: Discovery Science - Mystery Science, Science Techbook

Mystery Science is a unique, standards-aligned science curriculum for grades K-5 designed to help students stay curious. Mystery Guides lead engaging, open-and-go lessons with step-by-step, hands-on activities that explore scientific phenomena using common classroom items.

The curriculum is focused on Relevant Phenomena-Driven Instruction. Students engage in action-packed journeys to make sense of phenomena all year long. By following real-world storylines with an intentional sequencing of activities, students are motivated to ask important questions, plan investigations, use evidence-based reasoning to support their claims and solve problems.

Students grade 6-8 drive learning with Science Techbook. This program provides students with immersive, interactive, and creative ways to explore through hands-on activities and labs, virtual interactives, literacy lessons, and STEM projects.

These three-dimensional learning experiences deepen student understanding by giving them more opportunities to do science. Vetted by curriculum experts and differentiated by grade level, the phenomena and content mirror the interests of students and help them make lasting connections between science, the classroom, and their everyday lives.

Social Studies

Lower School: Studies Weekly

Studies Weekly is a student-friendly core Social Studies curriculum organized thematically to the strands of civics and government, geography, economics, and history. This curriculum is hands-on and interactive, spiraled and scaffolded, integrated with ELA, standards-aligned, and research-based. 

Middle School: Standards-Aligned Project-Based Learning 

Standards-aligned project-based learning in Middle School Social Studies helps students actively connect content to real-world issues, making history and civics meaningful and memorable. By investigating essential questions, collaborating with peers, and creating authentic products, students build a deeper understanding of key standards while strengthening critical thinking, research, and communication skills. This approach empowers learners to see themselves as historians and problem-solvers, increasing engagement, retention, and ownership of their learning.

All Grades: Physical Education - SPARK 

Our school-wide Physical Education program is grounded in John Ratey’s SPARK research, built on the idea that movement is a powerful driver of learning, focus, and emotional regulation.

Students participate in structured, aerobic-based activities designed to elevate the heart rate and prime the brain for improved attention, memory, and mood. By blending fitness, skill development, and mindful movement, the program supports both physical well-being and cognitive performance– helping students enter the classroom more engaged, regulated, and ready to learn. 

All Grades: The Dyslexic Advantage

Our school-wide Dyslexic Advantage program helps students understand and embrace the unique, inherent strengths associated with dyslexia, drawing from the research and frameworks in The Dyslexic Advantage.

Through guided reflection, hands-on activities, and real-world problem-solving, students explore their MIND strengths– material reasoning, interconnected thinking, narrative reasoning, and dynamic reasoning. This course empowers learners to see dyslexia not as a limitation, but as a distinctive cognitive profile with inherent strengths, building confidence, self-advocacy skills, and a deep appreciation for the ways they naturally think and innovate. 

Dive deeper into the Dyslexic Advantage.