google-site-verification: google1f00d8d3187a0b0d.html NWF Academy ABOUT US
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Why Choose The Northwest Florida Academy?

The Northwest Florida Academy offers something no other school in the area does, an integrated, therapeutic, structured literacy intervention model. Reading is a cognitive act, consisting of language and imagery.  Instruction must align with a theory of cognition to make a difference for students. Each student’s ability is taken into consideration when developing the individualized learning goals for our students. 

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At the heart of our student-centered approach are the social principles addressing how we Think, Act, Care and Reflect. We take what some see as a limitation and help students realize that, in fact, they have special abilities. Through this individualized and therapeutic approach we transform the way that our teachers teach and enable students to reach their fullest potential. 

 

What’s Different? 

WE ARE SUCCESSFUL when traditional schools are not. The overall delivery model is tailored to the learning profiles of the students in each classroom.

· We provide a structured literacy approach which addresses specific needs identified in psycho-educational testing and school and clinical observations.

· We provide a collaborative co-teaching instructional model which incorporates language-based instruction throughout the curriculum.

· We provide a creative problem solving approach which serves as the vehicle for the delivery of language-based instruction.

· We provide movement opportunities throughout the learning day, which enhances student attention and retention of information.

· We provide age appropriate physical education, music and art opportunities in collaboration with OT, PT and SLP staff.

Our Students

We serve KG-12th grades. Our students have:

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  • Learning or language-based differences in reading, writing and/or spelling (such as Dyslexia or Dysgraphia)

  • Sufficient attention regulation to allow access to curriculum

  • Behavioral control and social language skills which allow effective participation in small group instructional activities

Our Instructors

Our teachers and speech/language pathologist use a co-teaching instructional model with a collaborative and integrated language approach to student instruction.  They are highly trained in structured literacy instructional methods which are:

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  • Systematic

  • Cumulative

  • Explicit

  • Diagnostic

Reading  & Comprehension

1. Phoneme awareness- the ability to auditorily perceive sounds within words.

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2. Symbol imagery- the ability to create mental imagery for sounds and letters within words.

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3. Concept imagery- the ability to create mental representations for the whole; creating a dynamic imagery of actions, scenes, movement, etc.

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Our instructors lay this foundation and then teach our students to apply these skills to all academic curriculum and course content. 

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