Our academic program follows a monthly thematic unit which encourages in depth exploration of topics studied and encourages students to build on their knowledge.  Concepts learned are integrated into mathematics, science, language arts, reading and social studies. Artistic expression is encouraged in all areas of the curriculum. We also facilitate the different learning styles of our students by integrating a variety of experiential and enrichment activities into the school day. By having enrichment activities part of our program we are ensuring the novelty within structure need that all our students have.  In addition to aligning our curriculum with Georgia Performance Standards for grades K-5, we have also added the following special programs to address the specific and unique needs of our students.

Lower School: The Orion Lower School fosters the academic, physical, social and emotional development of students with AD/HD, ages 5-10 working between kindergarten and 3rd grade levels. Academic groupings are small, with 1:4 ratios, and are organized in accordance to skill level to provide differentiated instruction. Lessons are truly multisensory and experiential, taking full advantage of our students' natural curiosities and eagerness to see, feel, handle, and create. Phonics is taught using the Orton Gillingham Method. Other subjects include math (using TouchMath strategies), reading, science, social studies, and handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears), all of which are approached using novel activity and direct instruction. Social skills are a large part of our curriculum as this is a common struggle for all our students. Pragmatic skills, social scripts, and more abstract concepts, like empathy, are broken down and made accessible to our students. Teaching self-awareness and regulation using The Alert Program also provides students with a sense of power and control over their bodies and choices. Class times are short and opportunities for structured and free movement are offered throughout the day. In the center of our program is our positive behavior support plan. This constant, tactile reinforcement not only increases students' confidence, but also communicates teachers' expectations by focusing on positive, desired behaviors- rather than the negative. It is our goal to provide an alternative and optimal learning environment for children who have AD/HD.

Upper School: The Orion Upper School maintains a low student to teacher ratio, but is structured to accommodate the unique developmental needs our emerging teens. We focus on three major goals. The first goal is to achieve academic success through a variety of short and long term assignments and projects. The second goal is to foster the development of lifelong organizational skills and personal responsibility. The third goal is to continue to build self confidence as well as develop a sense of respect for others and themselves. The upper school maintains a safe and co-operative learning environment. Our students are immersed in an academically rich and exciting learning atmosphere. To engage our students, we teach a self created, multidisciplinary curriculum that includes reading, math, social studies, science, language arts, and social studies. Cursive is taught using the Handwriting Without Tears program. Class meetings give our emerging teens a chance to voice their opinions, make changes, and have a sense of ownership of the class.

Reading: Our focus in teaching phonics and reading skills is through the Orton-Gillingham method. This method is specifically designed for students with dyslexia, and appeals to all children with sensory integration issues. By approaching reading through a multi-sensory approach, which is systematic and diagnostic in nature, our students are ensured to experience success in learning how to read.

Writing: Using the Handwriting Without Tears program, we are able to teach students of all learning styles. The program is developmental and incorporates unique materials to eliminate problems with reversals, neatness, and letter formation. Working from this approach, the fine motor skills involved in writing are strengthened. Handwriting becomes an automatic, natural skill, and frustrations are minimized.

Math: Using a tactile and visual approach to teaching mathematics, students are able to understand topics, rather than just memorize facts. The Orion School is using the multisensory TouchMath program to supplement its standard math program. TouchMath uses TouchPoints on the numbers 0-9 to show a one-to-one correspondence with each numerical symbol. These points, once learned, can be used easily for everything from basic arithmetic operations to money, place value, and fractions.

Field Trips: A weekly Friday Field Trip builds on and connects to concepts being studied in class.  The Field trips are another experiential opportunity for understanding concepts being studied.  Our convenient Intown Atlanta location lets us take full advantage of the multitude of cultural, arts, and real life opportunities nearby.

Assessments: To maintain best practice in the field of education, The Orion School consistently utilizes both formal and informal assessments methods. Our monthly Unit Response showcases for families what our students have learned during the monthly thematic unit. Responses have included visual displays, skits, songs, dances, presentations, and projects. Teachers collaborate to conduct ongoing informal classroom assessments. Our formal assessments consist of both the Aimsweb and Stanford systems. Aimsweb is a cutting edge program that we use for benchmark assessments three times per academic year. This program assesses math, reading, and spelling skills. These benchmarks assessments are used to monitor student progress and help us to individualize instruction for our students. The Stanford test is a very comprehensive assessment that we administer at the end of each academic year.

Technology: Technology not only enables students with ADHD the ability to accomplish education tasks with ease, it is a tool to strengthen mental weaknesses and maximize mental strengths. Assistive Technology, a subset of technology tools, empowers students with ADHD to excel in various life activities that they may not otherwise using traditional methods. One of the most common challenge for a student with ADHD is written communication. A range of technology hardware and software is used to increase both receptive and expressive skills ultimately leading to the enhancement of writing capabilities.

Social-Emotional Skills: The Orion School has a Positive Behavior Support Plan in place to reinforce positive behavior outcomes for our students. Problem solving, rule following, anger control techniques and friendship skills are taught by integrating them into the curriculum. Social skills classes based on Elliot and Gresham’s Social Skill Intervention Guide are also part of our curriculum. In addition we follow the tenants of Stanley Greenspan’s Floortime Therapy concepts to engage our students in many activities where they are given the opportunity to understand and regulate their own emotions and interact successfully with others.

Yoga: Yoga teaches awareness. Through yoga our students learn to be aware of their bodies in relationship to the world around them. Yoga is a way for students to understand emotions they are having, how their body reacts to those emotions, and to literally “breathe” through them. Utilizing yoga in the classroom helps to increase the student’s awareness of the environment through all of their senses and to find a sense of relaxation during busy days. At the beginning of our practice, the importance of setting an intention, or goal, every day is stressed. The students react strongly to this goal setting and responses vary from “earn 20 stars” to “be a kind friend”. Yoga not only helps enhance concentration, creativity, self-love, confidence, and appreciation for others and our environment, but also gives students a chance to set personal goals and be applauded for reaching them.

Sports Skills: Each month The Orion School focuses on a new game or sport for students to play. By having a small student-teacher ratio, focus can be concentrated on learning the rules, strategies, and techniques of each activity. Through sports children learn the importance of cooperative and competitive play, fairness, and the ability to be a good sport.

Learning on the Log: Learning on the Log provides comprehensive sensory-based programs for students with learning differences. The immediate focus is to provide a safe and nurturing recreational environment that will assist our students with the following challenge: relating and interacting with peers and adults, strengthen motor planning, motor movement and sensory regulation, and increase and maintain a high level of self-esteem and self-worth. Therapeutic hiking experiences also encourage our students to explore and learn about natural science concepts.

Speech Therapy: A speech therapist will be assessing the students at The Orion School to help our teachers integrate each child’s speech needs into the curriculum.

Music: Music provides an opportunity for the students to create and respond to music together through movement, expressive singing, rhythm instrument play including drumming, and rhythmical vocal and body percussive chants. Musical experiences will address all functioning capabilities so that throughout the year the students can progressively develop energy management skills improving concentration, task focus, and communication efforts. The sheer joy of musical expression is no less important a matter and helps establish a sense of belongingness among those producing the music, particularly when everyone is synchronized with the beat.

Occupational Therapy: An occupational therapist will be teaching and training handwriting; including the Handwriting Without Tears program, providing techniques to increase sensory processing in the classroom, and initiating innovative ways to increase social interaction skills for the students at The Orion School.

Art: Students will not only focus on basic art concepts, but the healing benefits of creating. Various forms of creating engage the individual and represent for many of us what words simply cannot express. Art stimulates the senses, is hands-on, action-oriented, and allows for the individuality of each person to be supported and expressed. The art sessions provides structure and allows practice for focusing on a single task, developing greater self-awareness and awareness of others, learning to share space and materials, learning about boundaries, increasing listening skills, and planning and organizing. In addition, the final product created often provides a sense of achievement for the individual and an increase in self-esteem.

Wee Cook: Wee Cook is an interactive cooking program that teaches basic safety rules, cooking techniques and terms, global food awareness, and healthy cooking options. The classes are designed to stimulate creativity, encourage curiosity, and build self confidence and self esteem through accomplishment. In addition, cooking experiences provide sensory exploration as well as enhance motor, math, and reading skills. The Wee Cook recipes are individualized so each student usually makes their own food to eat. Planting and picking produce from a seasonal garden, ongoing planting projects and shopping expeditions teach a connection to and appreciation for the food we eat.

Martial Arts: Martial arts offer the clear directions and rules of structured learning. Karate instills self-discipline through focus building exercises. Karate builds self esteem through individual development. Classes are offered in a non-competitive, non-contact, safe environment that encourages goal setting. Karate also develops positive peer interactions, listening skills, gross motor skills and hand eye coordination.

Swimming: Group swimming instruction is given at The Athletic Club Northeast. Swimming skills, gross motor development, body awareness, focus, self control, and social skills are all addressed in weekly lessons that encourage person goal development. Classes are non-competitive and fun.