Elementary School Program

Tiegerman Elementary School focuses on the relationship between language development and academic success, providing intensive language immersion and academic instruction for students with language and autism spectrum disorders in a six and one-half hour school day (5 hours of instructional programming). The program is approved to serve students with Speech or Language Impairment, Autism, Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, Other Health Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Traumatic Brain Injury, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Students who remain in the program in the middle and high school years will attend our Middle School, also located in Glen Cove, NY and our High School located in Richmond Hill, Queens.

Tiegerman uses a transdisciplinary program model which involves extensive collaboration and joint decision-making. This approach requires a professional team of educators and therapists to coordinate each child's instructional goals and activities. Tiegerman’s transdisciplinary model is focused on the development of language and the enhancement of each child’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

Tiegerman’s curriculum and instructional programs are aligned with New York State Learning Standards. Teachers provide instruction that is language-enriched and utilize Universal Design for Learning principles that enable them to develop instruction to meet the diverse needs of all of the students in the classroom. Tiegerman’s self-contained classrooms are comprised of twelve students, two certified teachers and two teaching assistants (12:2:2), and are organized by grade level, according to students’ developmental levels of functioning. The intense student-to-teacher ratio allows for the provision of individual and small group instruction critical to helping our students achieve high academic standards and learning expectations.

Educational programming includes several periods of daily reading instruction. Tiegerman’s Extraordinary Language & Literacy (TELL) instructional program provides language and literacy learning through explicit instruction of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. TELL incorporates the use of carefully selected phonics, literature-based and leveled reading programs. Through the use of these reading programs, daily reading instruction integrates the components of balanced literacy to help students with language-based reading disorders develop the strategies and skills needed to become competent readers, writers and oral language users. Fast ForWord is also offered for students with auditory processing disorders who are exhibiting significant reading delays. Fast ForWord is provided for students when indicated on the IEP.

Students at Tiegerman Elementary School participate in a socialization program in which social skills are taught through direct instruction, role play, games and various other learning activities. These skills are also reinforced throughout each school day.

Tiegerman is committed to the use of technology to enhance instruction and to increase student achievement. Learning is extended beyond the classroom through the use of Promethean board technology. IPads are used in classrooms to deliver personalized instruction, assess student’s understanding and provide interactive and engaging learning experiences. IPads are also used by speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists to target students’ individual goals.

The related services provided at Glen Cove include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling and auditory training. These related services are intensive and highly individualized to meet the needs of each student. 

All students at Tiegerman Elementary School attend weekly special classes including Physical Education, Music, Art and Technology. Students also participate in a school Hobbies period each week to facilitate peer socialization and attend assemblies, theme day activities and other enrichment activities throughout the school year. Students work hard to present a number of projects and performances each year to families and friends, including Holiday and Moving Up Performances, Talent Show, Art Show, Science Fair and Poem in a Pocket Day. 

Tiegerman believes in the power of schools and families working together to support student learning and growth, and encourages parents to become active participants in their child’s education. Tiegerman offers classroom video viewing opportunities for parents and monthly parent training programs led by highly trained professionals. Parents are welcomed as volunteers and are encouraged to join our Parent Teacher Friends Association (PTFA). 

For more information about our Elementary Program, please contact the Admissions Office at (516) 609-2000, ext. 323.