In the world of education, there are various approaches and methods to ensure that students receive the best possible learning experience. Two notable techniques, Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching, have gained recognition for their effectiveness in helping students grasp essential skills and concepts.
Pamela Furr’s Puzzle Box Academy embodies these techniques, offering a tailored and impactful educational experience for its students, especially those on the Autism spectrum.
What are Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching?
Direct Instruction is an educational method focusing on structured teaching. It involves the systematic delivery of content in a clear and straightforward manner. This approach leaves little room for ambiguity and ensures students receive a solid foundation in various subjects. Direct Instruction is particularly effective for students who may require additional support in their learning journey.
Precision Teaching, on the other hand, is a data-driven educational method that aims to improve the fluency of skills. It involves setting clear and measurable learning objectives, regularly assessing a student’s progress, and adjusting instruction based on the collected data. Precision Teaching emphasizes mastery of skills to fluency and helps students achieve a higher level of competence in various areas.
Alternate Learning With The Puzzle Box Academy
Puzzle Box Academy is an educational institution that provides alternate education. It strives to meet students at their individual learning levels, developing teaching models tailored to their specific needs.
The academy employs a distinctive approach to group instruction, using small class sizes to ensure that students can not only grasp new skills but also achieve fluency in them.
One of the fundamental principles of Puzzle Box Academy is treating every student as an individual learner rather than categorizing them based on disabilities. This personalized approach is achieved through a custom-blended curriculum that combines public school standards with Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching techniques.
A highlight of Puzzle Box Academy’s educational model is its proprietary instruction called Aspire, based on the Morningside Method of Generative Instruction and customized for a neurodiverse student population. This approach equips students with a robust arsenal of learning strategies, fostering positive outcomes across various subjects.
The academy applies this approach throughout its curriculum, from pre-kindergarten to senior high school. With a 1:7 teacher-student ratio, over 100 students are taught here through an individualized program, helping them progress at a better pace than in public schools.
In conclusion, individualized learning can create an inclusive and supportive environment where students with diverse needs can thrive. Through this approach, we can not only help children catch up academically but also provide them with the essential tools to develop necessary life skills.
Through initiatives like Puzzle Box Academy, children with developmental challenges can overcome the barriers and sprint toward a brighter and more secure future.
