Our Curriculum

Research and experience tell us that students learn better when teaching practices are “developmentally appropriate” i.e., they need to match the ability level of the student regardless of the age. We use our knowledge of child development to intentionally plan appropriate learning experiences that match students’ interests and abilities. That’s why we say our curriculum is ‘ability-based.’

Along with best practices from the fields of Special Education and Behavioral Psychology, HOPE School uses the High Scope/Ability-Based curriculum from the USA which is founded on the principles of early-childhood development. Our instructional program is intended to meet the needs of learners who have developmentally delayed cognitive abilities. It follows a consistent daily routine which gives students opportunities to make choices, work, and problem-solve in a variety of social settings and have fun doing it.

Teachers plan instructional strategies around the 8 core content areas of the curriculum called Key Developmental Indicators: (1) Approaches to Learning (2) Social and Emotional Development (3) Physical Development and Health (4) Language, Literacy and Communication (5) Mathematics (6) Creative Arts (7) Science and Technology (8) Social Studies.