Elementary Resource Counseling
Many children struggle from time to time with a range of family and life circumstances (divorce, loss, moves, stress) that make school more difficult. Thus, our school developmental counseling program, provided by our certified Elementary Resource Counselor, is able to provide opportunities for students to participate in individual and small group counseling experiences that provide support and skill-building for coping with family stressors, academic struggles, and personal issues.
English as a Second Language
IUSD recommends that children learning English as a second language enroll in the IUSD Newcomer Program. Students are much more successful in English acquisition through this specialized district program. Deerfield offers a Newcomer Cluster in grades TK, Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Newcomer Programs for other grades are offered at nearby schools. After students reach an intermediate level, they will return to their neighborhood school. Students who have been identified as English Learners receive additional support to assist them in reading, writing, listening, and speaking standards.
Guidance Resource Services
Deerfield receives the services of a counseling assistant who works with small groups in the areas of classroom behavior, self-concept and social skills. In addition, the assistant focuses on managing reactions to major changes in home or at school. It is very common for some young children to have trouble with adjusting to the classroom, getting along with others, managing their feelings, dealing with changes in their families, paying attention, regulating their behavior, and developing the social and emotional skills they need for school and life success. The Deerfield Guidance Assistant Program is designed to offer support to these students during their school day so that they can increase their learning-readiness and move ahead successfully in school.
“Tool Box” social skills lessons are offered to the whole classroom as well, in a series of ten 30 minute “workshops”. These small group or classroom lessons may cover:
- Learning about Empathy
- Anger Management Skills
- Impulse Control Skills
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Decision Making Skills
- Learning-to-Learn Skills (attention, focus, listening)
- Getting Along With Others
- Bullying Prevention
- Dealing with Changes
Psychological Services
The school psychologist provides assistance for behavioral, social/emotional, and cognitive needs of students. Diagnosis of student needs, guidance for students and parents, testing, and consultation are available.
Resource Specialist Program
This program is designed to assist children who demonstrate significant deficits in academic skills. A student can qualify for this program by demonstrating a specific learning disability or a significant discrepancy between ability and academic achievement. After a student is identified as qualifying for this program, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is designed to assist the student to make reasonable academic gains utilizing his/her strengths and remediation of weaknesses. This program is designed and implemented by the resource specialist in classrooms and in a one-on-one or small-group learning situation.
Speech and Language Pathologist
This program is designed to diagnose and provide therapy for students who demonstrate difficulty in speech, language development, and language-based skills. Students who qualify for this program have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) designed for them and receive individual or small group assistance as appropriate.
Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) Classes
This program is designed to assist children who demonstrate significant deficits in academic skills. A student can qualify for the program by demonstrating a specific learning disability or a significant discrepancy between ability and academic performance. After a student has been identified as qualifying for the program, an Individualized Education Plan supported by the program and the classroom teacher is designed to assist the students in making reasonable academic and social gains utilizing his/her strengths and remediating weaknesses.
IUSD provides students with a minimal or total support system (academic, behavioral, personal, vocational, transition) through which he/she can acquire knowledge and those skills necessary to function in the regular classroom and ultimately in society.
Student Success Team
Deerfield problem-solving team approach for students, parents, and staff.
Title 1 Program
Title 1 funds support many programs including Early Intervention Reading Model for small group reading interventions in K-2 classrooms, small group instruction for grades 3-6, and small group math instruction.