AIME Team

AIME TEACHERS

  • Mrs. Denise Almdale
  • Mrs. Mary Faris

Core Subjects
READING
Students are ability grouped for reading. Programs that have been used include the Edmark Survival Words and Symbol Series; words/symbols correlate with Life Skill Units. Other programs may include Dolch Sight Word Activity Series, adapted novels, and "High Interest, Low Reading Level" series and Project Read.
MATH
Math curriculum is based on practical math applications. Students will be given strategies/tools to foster independence (coin card, calculator, tip card, etc.) Some units that will be presented are: money, time and measurement. An individual student banking system is part of the student's program.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Students are ability grouped for Language Arts Curriculum which may include:

  • Handwriting/grapho fine motor skills.
  • Spelling - ranges from unit word recognition to traditional spelling workbooks.
  • Writing - ranges from handwriting practice and printing personal information to construction of sentences and simple paragraphs.
  • Computer - keyboarding
SOCIAL STUDIES/SCIENCE
1st Semester will be Social Studies and 2nd Semester will be Science.
Units are based upon student's life experiences and presented in a concrete/hands on instruction, i.e.:
  • State of Illinois Unit
  • Natural Habitats
  • Rain Forest
  • Simple Machine
LIFE SKILLS CLASS
Units taught encompass a two-year curriculum. The units are centered around skills that increase independence as well as career education. They are integrated into all curricular areas. Attached are next years' Life Skill Units and some of the areas of emphasis within the units.

CBT
Our community trips are once a month. These trips reinforce skills taught in our Life Skills Classes as well as in Reading and Math. Objectives worked on in the community are reinforcement of skills taught in three of our core classes: Life Skills, Reading and Math. Community trips may also be culmination activities of Social Studies and Science Units.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
In-School jobs are for those students who are able to function on the job with minimal to no supervision.
Minimal to No supervision includes

  • On task for 30 minutes
  • Mailroom
  • Xeroxing - Safety issues
  • Laminating - Safety issue
  • Counting flyers up to 20

Appropriate work behaviors are also a requirement. Consequences mirror real life job situations: suspension without pay, termination from present job after two warnings and remediation. Students receive a teacher-made paycheck for their work. Depending on their performance students may receive bonus pay, suspension of pay or be terminated from the job. For students requiring an adult supervised structured setting tasks range from simulated jobs to outside jobs. Each student punches in at a time clock and is paid for that period. Workstations include office center, job assembly, recycling. Two days per week will be computer-based instruction.

Enrichments
MAINSTREAM ENRICHMENTS: Students attend a regular Ed enrichment class taught by a Junior High enrichment teacher with curriculum adapted and presented by a Program Assistant.

MODIFIED ENRICHMENTS: Enrichments are four days per week, one period a day. A different enrichment will be taught each nine week quarter.
This class will be team taught by Denise Almdale and the following Junior High Enrichment teachers:

  • Art - Zoe Shapera
  • Cooking - Kathy Fritz
  • Music - Bob Moffett
  • Woods -Tom Riley
  • Each MMI Junior High student will have a Junior High peer buddy that will work along side him/her for each given quarter.

Weekly Homework Assignment Sheet
Students are given Homework Assignment Sheets so they are able to keep track of their homework. There is a column on the sheet where special events are listed. If we notice that homework is not getting turned in on time, we will contact you. These assignment sheets will be given to the students the first school day of the week. In lieu of weekly newsletters, Assignment Sheets will list Junior High activities monthly. The Winston Campus newsletter "Smoke Signal" is sent home with students.

NWSRA

Many of our students participate in the NWSRA activities that are after school. Please let us know if your child will be participating in any of the activities.  Your bus driver would appreciate this information also. Activity buses are not provided for NWSRA activities.

Clubs, Dances & Intramurals
In the past, the Junior High has offered clubs, dances and intramural activities. These extra-curricular activities vary from year to year. Information is given during homeroom announcement time. Bus transportation can be provided. Clubs and intramurals are run by the Regular Ed Staff. No Program Assistants are provided. There are 2 - 3 dances a year. Dances are held after school from 2:30 - 4:00.