Mainstreaming Options

• Students in the EARS Program from 18 months through Kindergarten and beyond take part in weekly visits to mainstream classrooms of their same-aged peers. The EARS program has working relationships with the University at Buffalo Child Care Center  in Amherst, and St. Joseph University School, along with Elmwood-Franklin School in Buffalo. 
• Mainstreaming opportunities allow our students to practice the listening and language skills they have learned in the classroom in a general education setting. Visits to mainstream classrooms allow the EARS staff to assess our students' readiness to enter general education programs in their home districts. 

Hearing Peers Partnership

• The Hearing Peers Partnership is a component of the EARS educational program from 18 months through Kindergarten and beyond. Each EARS classroom welcomes same-aged peers, who are typically hearing, into the classroom on a weekly basis.
• The partnership allows our students to practice the listening and spoken language skills they will need to be successful in a mainstream classroom on a smaller scale and in a more controlled and familiar setting. 
• Hearing peers bring a natural, age-appropriate language model for our students. All students learn valuable lessons in patience, perseverance, and kindness, and build meaningful friendships.

EARS student, Evan enjoying a sensory activity with hearing peer, Dela. 

Lunch & Learn with EARS

• Lunch & Learn is a caregiver educational session that families of our EARS students are invited to participate in weekly. EARS staff members and families pack bag lunches and sit for informal, friendly discussion about a variety of topics. 
• Lunch & Learn sessions allow our students' families and EARS staff members to develop a strong support network while learning how to best foster their children's listening, language, and overall development. 

Parents participating in an informative Lunch & Learn session.

Music Together

• Each week, the EARS students participate in a Music Together class taught by a certified staff member.
• Music Together is an early childhood music appreciation program created by Kenneth K. Guilmartic and Dr. Lili M.  Levinowitz. It is an international music program loved by families all around the world.
• The Music Together curriculum is adaptable to meet the needs of all children. In the EARS Program, it is used to foster speech, langrage, and social-emotional development in a fun, stress-free environment and is enjoyed weekly by students and staff alike.
• Monthly, families of EARS students are invited to participate in the Music Together experience as well. 

"In the EARS Program, we utilize music to assist in the language development of our students.  Music has such a positive effect on young learners, and creates a safe and exciting multi-sensory avenue for listening, language and speech practice."

Amanda Rogers, Classroom Teacher, Certified Music Together Provider

Children and adults alike enjoying Music Together. 

Community Language-Based Field Trips

• EARS Preschool and Kindergarten students participate in monthly thematic field trip opportunities.
• Community field trip destinations are carefully planned to allow our students opportunities to practice the listening and language skills that they have learned in the classroom in less structured, less predictable environments with the support of their teachers. 

EARS students, Dakota and Kayleigh, learn about fire safety at the best possible location-the fire station.