About Unique Learning System
ULS Foundation
A standard-based curriculum program designed specifically for students with significant disabilities.
Unique Learning System is the ONLY online, dynamic, standards-based curriculum specifically designed
for special learners. Subscribers download monthly instructional thematic units of study. Each unit
contains 27 lesson plans and downloadable materials that teachers can readily implement into classroom
learning activities. All materials are created using SymbolStix graphics. The unit lesson plans define
three levels of differentiated tasks to accommodate the diversity of learners with significant disabilities.
Organized Into 5 Grade Level Bands
- Elementary (K-2)
- Intermediate (3-4)
- Middle School (5-7)
- High School (8-10)
- Transition (10+) *NEW*
Unique’s thematic units are Science and Social Studies themed and include comprehensive activities for all five core competencies:
- Reading
- Writing
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Unique Learning System also integrates seamlessly with the News-2-You weekly current events newspaper.
Monthly suggested activities are available to help teacher make the connection.
Lesson Plans
Each month, there are a total of 27 new lesson provided within each grade band. Lesson plans encompass a
consistent format of activities with varied content and skills for each monthly unit. They center around
an Instructional Target which align with the essence of the national content standards. These can easily
be adapted to align with state specific standards.
Each plan is also differentiated into three learning levels to provide teachers with the ability to teach
the same material to all students of varying cognitive abilities.
- Level 1: Students typically require maximum support within instructional tasks. For these students, increasing the level of participation is the main objective.
- Level 2: Students require picture support and other direct support in learning and the demonstration of skills.
- Level 3: Students typically are reading or have potential to learn to read text and independently demonstrate comprehension of learned information within modified content.
CLICK HERE to download sample lesson plans from all 5 grade bands.
How It Works...
- Choose your grade band
- Download the month's lesson plans
- Use the pre-made differentiated materials
(Included are: storybooks, articles, chapter books, comprehension activities, math activities, live skills activities, and MUCH MORE!
- Present standards-based classroom instruction
- Create individual student profiles and personalized teaching strategies online
- Track student progress online with monthly checkpoints
Additional Tools
- Student Profile: Educators create individualized learning profiles for each student online.
- Checkpoints: Input, store, and track student progress by importing testing scores into the online too.
- Administrator Access: Allows supervisors to view lessons, monitor teacher/student progress, and ensure compliance of curriculum adoption.
- AND MUCH MORE!
**NEW** Transition Band
Unique Learning System now includes a fifth Transition Band! The main goal of the transition curriculum is to create a
realistic atmosphere of skill learning that will be needed when exiting the school setting, entering the work setting and
living with optimal independence. Intended for students who are beyond the 12th grade year or who have met high school
requirements, the Unique Learning System Transition Program offers programming options and materials to support educators
who are addressing transition training for older students.
CLICK HERE to download an overview of the Transition band.
Top 10 Things to Know About Unique Learning System
1. ULS is based on Instructional Targets that align to state standards
- These targets provide the direction for standards-based instruction, alternate assessment processes and IEP goal attainment.
2. ULS is designed in 5 grade level bands
Select a grade level band that aligns to the chronological (not developmental) grade of your students.
- Elementary (Grades K-2)
- Intermediate (Grades 3-4)
- Middle School (Grades 5-7)
- High School (Grades 8-10)
- Transition (Grades 10+) *NEW*
3. Differentiated Tasks
Provide guidance on how to include ALL students in the same activity, different levels of expectation.
- Level 1: Students typically require maximum support within instructional tasks. For these students,
increasing the level of participation is the main objective.
- Level 2: Students may require picture support and other direct support in learning and the demonstration
of comprehension.
- Level 3: Students are typically learning to read text, produce simple writing, perform basic math
processes and can independently demonstrate comprehension of modified learning information.
4. 27 lessons are provided each month
- New lessons and materials go on the first Wednesday of each month.
- Two months are always up on the web: the current month and the next month. Lessons are NOT intended to be taught in
sequential order. Lessons are taught multiple times throughout the month.
- Students need multiple opportunities to practice skills and learn information.
- A suggested monthly plan is provided in the ULS Tools.
5. There are multiple ways to download materials
- Download ALL the lessons AND materials at once.
- Download all the lesson plans.
- Download single lesson and materials.
6. Lessons are based on Science and Social Studies topics
- Reading, writing and math activities are built around this topic.
- There is a 3-year cycle of new topics.
- Complete list of this year’s topics are on the front page of the ULS web page.
7. Leveled books are provided in Lesson 1 of each grade band
Three books, three levels, one topic
- Intermediate and Elementary levels contain a second book.
- Middle School and High school contain a chapter book.
| ULS Level |
Grade Level |
Guided
Reading |
DRA |
Reading
Recovery |
| aa |
Pre K |
|
|
|
| A |
K |
A |
A-1 |
1 |
| B |
K |
B |
2 |
2 |
| C |
Pre-primer |
C |
3-4 |
3-4 |
| D |
Pre-primer |
D |
5-6 |
5-6 |
| E |
Pre-primer |
E |
7-8 |
7-8 |
| F |
Primer |
F |
9-10 |
9-10 |
| G |
Primer |
G |
11-12 |
11-12 |
| H |
Grade 1 |
H |
13-14 |
13-14 |
| I |
Grade 1 |
I |
16 |
15-17 |
| J |
Grade 2 |
J |
18-20 |
18-19 |
| K |
Grade 2 |
K |
24 |
20 |
| L |
Grade 2 |
L |
28 |
24-28 |
| M |
Grade 2 |
M |
28 |
24-29 |
| N |
Grade 3 |
N |
30-34 |
30 |
| O |
Grade 3 |
O |
38 |
34-38 |
| P |
Grade 3 |
P |
38 |
34-38 |
8. Early Emerging Reading Rubric
Provides ways to monitor reading behaviors for students with the most severe disabilities.
9. Checkpoints
Provide a means to monitor progress on unit materials.
- Pre and post assessment can be completed.
- Results can be entered into student info for progress monitoring.
10. Unique Lessons integrate and compliment the weekly News-2-You article and activities
- Suggested links are provided.
NCLB & IDEA
The mandates within No Child Left Behind (NCLB 2001) and the individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA 2004) make it clear that ALL students are expected to participate and make progress in the
general curriculum. These mandates are often perplexing for educators of students with the most severe
disabilities. The depth and complexity of state academic content standards seem far from reach for these
students. Teachers are faced with how to adapt curriculum materials into an accessible and meaningful
manner. Consequently, instruction is frequently based on an individual teacher's perspective of what is
appropriate at the time without full knowledge of what was taught in the past, or what the future expectations will be.
The Unique Learning System is based on years of classroom experience, teacher input, and study of effective
learning strategies for students with the most significant disabilities. The following guiding principles
are embedded within this program as a belief system, as was as an expectation of what successful learning will look like.
- Standards-based instruction provides an effective avenue to assure that students are participating in a systematic and progressive learning process.
- There must be a strong expectation that all students can benefit from literacy learning in order to enhance their life-time opportunities.
- When teachers are provided with core instructional materials, they can more readily focus on a student's individual learning needs.