Chattering Children

Speak Up

Literacy and Academics through Spoken Communication
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What is Speak Up?                                                                                            

Chattering Children’s SPEAK UP is a school where children with hearing loss learn literacy and academic skills through spoken communication in a specially tailored environment. The goal is for the children to attain grade-level proficiency, at which point they are ready to be mainstreamed in a typical school.




Who Will Benefit?

SPEAK UP is for children in the preschool to lower elementary grade levels who require special preparation to enable them to effectively learn in a typical classroom. This need may arise due to delays in spoken language or learning disabilities associated with hearing loss. All children will be evaluated prior to enrollment to determine if SPEAK UP will meet their needs.





Educational Philosophy                                                                                  

SPEAK UP has high expectations for all children in the program. We believe in helping each child reach his/her full potential in all areas of development. Teaching activities fit the child’s learning style in order for learning to occur quickly, effectively and enjoyably.
The following are the cornerstones of the SPEAK UP philosophy.

• Auditory-oral methodology: Children are taught to understand and use high levels of spoken language.
• Concepts are taught in a wide variety of contexts so that academic learning and the necessary spoken language develop together.
• Cognitive curriculum that promotes thinking and problem solving skills rather than rote-learning.
• Child-centered active learning.
• A rich learning environment involving art, music/movement, computers, real-life experiences, and literature.




 

How Does the Program Work?                                                                       

* Children attend SPEAK UP three days a week (younger children) or five days a week (older children).

* Each child receives instruction that meets his/her individual educational goals and objectives, including competency in the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).

* Children participate in small group activities and also receive one-on-one instruction to address specific needs.

* Parents are required to participate through follow-up activities at home and by attending parent training sessions.

* Progress is monitored through ongoing evaluations and annual standardized testing.

* Children are transitioned to a mainstream classroom through collaboration of SPEAK UP staff and the mainstream school. In-service training and support services are provided as needed.

* SPEAK UP will also evaluate and monitor children after mainstreaming to ensure their success.